Violation

California Code § 87465(h)(6)Medication Records

How CCLD inspectors cite this regulation, what providers do to stay clear of it, and where it appears in the public record.

Type B, generalAffects rcfe171 facilities cited in the last 90 days

ℹ️ Educational reference based on public CCLD inspection records. Not legal or compliance advice. Verify requirements with official sources. Full disclaimer →

Regulation text

What California Code § 87465(h)(6) actually says

California Code § 87465(h)(6)

The licensee shall be responsible for assuring that a record of centrally stored prescription medications for each resident is maintained for at least one year and includes:

From the field

What providers tell us about this citation

Based on community experience, not official guidance.

Log each centrally stored medication at the moment it is given, not from memory at shift's end. LPAs compare your records against the medication on hand, and any gap is an easy Type B citation.

By the numbers

171^*CCLD: facilities cited in the last 90 days
23^*CCLD: counties where this citation appeared
--^*CCLD: rank among most-common citations
Trajectory: Steady

171 facilities were cited for this in the last 90 days. See if yours is one of them.

Check a facility

What other providers do

Common practices to stay clear of Medication Records

Common practices shared by providers. Confirm requirements with your licensing analyst.

Common practices

Keep a record of each resident's centrally stored prescription medications
Retain the record for at least one year
Document the prescription details and refill data the section requires

What to avoid

Logging medications from memory at the end of a shift
Discarding records before the one-year retention period ends
Gaps in the log when a resident's prescription is refilled or changed

Regional record

Where this citation appeared in the past 90 days

Citation counts and rates by California county, drawn from CCLD inspection records.

Regional citations for Medication Records, last 90 days
County	Citations	Facilities	Citation rate
Santa Clara	31	--	--
Los Angeles	23	--	--
Kern	14	--	--
Sacramento	13	--	--
San Mateo	12	--	--
Fresno	8	--	--
Sonoma	8	--	--
Orange	6	--	--
Solano	5	--	--
Ventura	4	--	--

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citations2026-05-30Updated weekly

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Answers based on public CCLD data and regulation text. May not reflect recent changes.

What is the centrally stored medication record requirement?

It is the duty to keep a written record of every centrally stored prescription medication for each resident, held for at least one year. Title 22, Section 87465(h)(6) requires the log so the facility can show what medication a resident received, when, and in what amount. Accurate records let staff catch missed doses or refill gaps. Incomplete or missing logs are a common Type B citation in California RCFEs.

How common is this medication record violation in California assisted living?

According to California CCLD inspection records, 160 California RCFEs have been cited under Section 87465(h)(6), with 184 total citations across 24 counties. This is a Type B violation, a potential risk if left uncorrected. Santa Clara County leads with 31 citations, followed by Los Angeles with 26. About 1.2% of California RCFEs carry this deficiency, making it one of the more frequent medication-record findings.

What happens if an RCFE is cited for incomplete medication records?

A Licensing Program Analyst documents the deficiency and sets a correction date. You submit a plan of correction and show complete medication records at the follow-up visit. As a Type B citation, it carries civil penalties lower than a Type A. Repeated record gaps draw closer scrutiny, and a missing log can complicate any later review tied to a resident's medication or a complaint.

How do I keep complete centrally stored medication records?

Use one standard medication record per resident and log each centrally stored prescription as it arrives, is given, and is refilled. Reconcile the log against the actual medication on hand each week. Keep records for at least one year, even after a resident leaves. Train every medication-trained staff member to record at the time of the pass, not from memory at shift end.

Does a medication record citation affect my RCFE license?

A single Type B record citation will not end your license, but California CCLD logs it in your facility's history. A pattern of medication-record gaps signals weak oversight and weakens your standing at renewal and in complaint investigations. Correcting the deficiency on time and tightening your logging routine keeps one citation from growing into a larger medication-management problem.

Related violations

Other citations in this regulation family

This information is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed residential care compliance consultant for guidance specific to your facility. Citation data is sourced from California Community Care Licensing Division public records and is refreshed regularly.

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