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Nursing homes in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has 656 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes in 67 counties, with 83,064 certified beds in total. The state average CMS overall rating is 3.0 of 5 against a national average of 3.0, and homes report 3.89 nurse staffing hours per resident per day against 3.86 nationally.

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Pennsylvania against the national average

MeasurePennsylvaniaUnited States
Overall rating (1 to 5)3.03.0
Health inspection rating2.82.8
Staffing rating3.02.9
Nurse staffing hours per resident per day3.893.86
Registered nurse hours per resident per day0.790.69
Nursing staff turnover44.5%45.8%
Health deficiencies in the latest inspection10.09.2
Fines per home, past three years0.80.9

Averages are published by CMS. Health inspection ratings are set within each state, so compare them across states with care.

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Cities with at least 3 homes, by the city in each home's CMS address. Every home is also listed by county below.

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Nursing home rules and contacts in Pennsylvania

Federal rules on residents' rights, discharge notices and Medicare coverage are the same in every state. These are the offices to call in Pennsylvania, and the rules the state sets for itself.

Minimum staffing
Across the whole home, nursing staff must provide at least 3.2 hours of direct care per resident per day. Minimum ratios are 1 nurse aide for every 10 residents during the day, 11 in the evening and 15 overnight; 1 licensed practical nurse for every 25, 30 and 40; and 1 registered nurse for every 250 residents on every shift (a home with 59 or fewer residents may use a licensed practical nurse overnight if a registered nurse is on call within a 30-minute drive). A full-time registered nurse director of nursing is required. Homes may ask the Department of Health in writing for an exception; requests and approved exceptions are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Source: 28 Pa. Code §§ 211.12, 201.2(b) and 51.33
Personal needs allowance (Medicaid)
A Medical Assistance resident keeps $60 a month for personal needs ($120 for a couple), effective January 1, 2025. Source: Pennsylvania Medicaid State Plan Amendment TN 24-0023; DHS Long-Term Care Handbook § 468.32
Holding a bed during a hospital stay or leave
Medical Assistance pays to reserve a bed during a hospital stay for up to 15 days in a row, but only if the home's occupancy that quarter was at least 85%. For a Medical Assistance resident whose hospital stay is 15 days or fewer, the home must readmit the resident to the same bed, paid or not, if the resident still needs nursing home care, and may not bill the resident for those days. After a longer stay, the home must readmit the resident to the first available bed if they still need nursing home care. These rules also apply to Community HealthChoices managed care plans. Medical Assistance also pays for up to 30 days per calendar year of therapeutic leave that is in the care plan and ordered by the attending physician. Source: 55 Pa. Code § 1187.104; Community HealthChoices Operations Memo 2018-01
Discharge notice
In a home enrolled in Medical Assistance, any resident, whether on Medicaid or not, may appeal a transfer or discharge to the Department of Human Services. Under a department statement of policy, the appeal must be filed within 30 days of proper notice (the time does not start until proper notice is given); it can be made by letter, which must include a copy of the home's notice and the reasons the resident disagrees, and there is no fee. If a home closes, residents must get written notice at least 60 days before the closure and cannot be required to leave sooner than 30 days after the notice, unless the Department of Health decides otherwise for health and safety. Source: 55 Pa. Code ch. 1181, App. N (statement of policy); 28 Pa. Code § 201.23

Checked against Pennsylvania state sources on Oct 9, 2026. Rules and phone numbers change, so confirm with the office listed. For the rules that apply in every state, see residents' rights, how to file a complaint and how Medicaid pays for a nursing home.

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, nursing home datasets processed Sep 1, 2026.