Violation

California Code § 87465(a)(6)Medication Dosage 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 rcfe278 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(a)(6) actually says

California Code § 87465(a)(6)

When requested by the prescribing physician or the Department, a record of dosages of medications which are centrally stored shall be maintained by the facility.

From the field

What providers tell us about this citation

Based on community experience, not official guidance.

255 California RCFEs were cited for this. If an LPA asks for a centrally stored medication's dosage record and you cannot produce it, that is a Type B citation. Keep the log with the medications and record each dose as it is given.

By the numbers

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

278 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 Dosage Records

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

Common practices

Keep dosage records for all centrally stored medications
Record resident name, drug, dose, and date for each medication
Produce the records on request from the physician or the Department

What to avoid

No dosage log for medications the facility stores centrally
Records that are incomplete or not reconciled against medications on hand
Logging doses from memory after the shift instead of at the time given

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 Dosage Records, last 90 days
County	Citations	Facilities	Citation rate
Los Angeles	42	--	--
Orange	22	--	--
Fresno	21	--	--
Riverside	20	--	--
San Bernardino	20	--	--
Sacramento	17	--	--
Kern	14	--	--
Sonoma	12	--	--
Ventura	10	--	--
Alameda	7	--	--

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 a Section 87465(a)(6) violation?

A Section 87465(a)(6) violation means an RCFE did not keep a record of dosages for centrally stored medications when the prescribing physician or the Department asked for one. Centrally stored medications are kept by the facility rather than the resident. Without a dosage record, no one can confirm a resident got the right medication, which is why CCLD tracks this requirement. It is usually cited as a Type B deficiency.

How common is this violation in California assisted living?

Medication record gaps are a common documentation citation in California assisted living. According to CCLD inspection records, 255 California RCFEs have been cited under Section 87465(a)(6), and it is most often classified as a Type B violation, meaning a problem that could become a risk to residents if it is not corrected. Los Angeles County leads, followed by Orange and Fresno counties.

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

When an LPA requests dosage records the facility cannot produce, the RCFE is cited and given a deadline to correct it. Because this is usually a Type B deficiency, the facility must show it has the records and a system to keep them. Type B citations carry lower civil penalties than Type A, but an uncorrected Type B can be reclassified and escalate, and a follow-up visit confirms the fix.

How do I fix or prevent this violation?

Keep a current dosage record for every centrally stored medication, with the resident name, drug, dose, and date. Store the records with the centrally stored medications so staff and an LPA can find them quickly. Reconcile the records against the medications on hand on a set schedule. Train medication staff to log each dose at the time it is given, not from memory later.

Does this violation affect my RCFE license?

Usually indirectly. A single Section 87465(a)(6) citation is typically a Type B deficiency, not an immediate license threat. The licensing risk comes from leaving it uncorrected or repeating it, which CCLD can escalate. Producing accurate dosage records on request and fixing any gap by the deadline keeps a routine medication-record citation from growing into a licensing concern.

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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