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Buffalo Lake Health Care Center

All states › Minnesota › Buffalo Lake › Buffalo Lake Health Care Center

703 West Yellowstone Trail Buffalo Lake, MN 55314 · Renville County

(320) 833-5364

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 49 certified beds Non profit

CMS certification number 245589 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is Buffalo Lake Health Care Center a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record

There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Buffalo Lake Health Care Center as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above the Minnesota average of 3.2. Inspectors issued 13 citations in the last three years. CMS reports no fines or payment denials in that time.

Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.

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Compare with the 3 closest homes

Staffing

Nursing staff spend about 4.64 hours per resident per day at Buffalo Lake Health Care Center, above the Minnesota median of 4.18 (US median: 3.72). About 0.67 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.85 hours, 17% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 40.6% of nursing staff left within a year (Minnesota median 39.7%).

Nursing care per resident per day 4.64 hours
Above the Minnesota median of 4.18 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.67 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.85 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 40.6% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 16.7% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 1 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds49
Residents per day 46 About 94% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipNon profit - Corporation
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceNovember 1991
Legal business nameBUFFALO LAKE HEALTHCARE CENTER INC,.

Paying for care at Buffalo Lake Health Care Center: Medicare and Medicaid

Buffalo Lake Health Care Center is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Minnesota's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.

In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.

Health inspections

The most recent standard inspection was on January 8, 2026 and found 8 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 13 citations in the last three years.

Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.

What the inspections found

Over the last three years, inspectors issued 13 citations at Buffalo Lake Health Care Center across 3 inspection dates, 1 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 13 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were infection control (4) and resident rights (4). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards" (tag F0812, level F, January 8, 2026). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.

January 8, 2026 · 8 citations

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)

FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)

FDesignate a qualified infection preventionist to be responsible for the infection prevent and control program in the nursing home.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0882 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)

EImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0580 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)

DPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0645 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)

DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0684 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)

DEnsure therapeutic diets are prescribed by the attending physician and may be delegated to a registered or licensed dietitian, to the extent allowed by State law.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0808 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)

DImplement a program that monitors antibiotic use.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0881 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)

December 28, 2023 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0609 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 28, 2024)

December 20, 2023 · 4 citations

DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0580 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 23, 2024)

DKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0583 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 23, 2024)

DNotify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0625 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 23, 2024)

DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0883 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 23, 2024)

Questions to ask on a tour of Buffalo Lake Health Care Center

  1. CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on December 28, 2023. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
  2. Weekend staffing is 17% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
  3. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  4. When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?

Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.

Fines and payment denials

CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 4/5 3/5 5/5 3/5
August 2026 4/5 3/5 5/5 2/5
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Location

Hospitals near Buffalo Lake Health Care Center

The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.

  • 15.5 mi
    Hutchinson Area Health Care Hutchinson
    Emergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5
    Median ER visit 2h 20m for patients treated and sent home
  • 17.9 mi
    Olivia Hospital & Clinic Olivia
    Emergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5
    Median ER visit 2h 4m for patients treated and sent home
  • 23.3 mi
    Glencoe Regional Health Services Glencoe
    Emergency room
    Median ER visit 2h 38m for patients treated and sent home

Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

Nearby nursing homes

Harmony River Living Center Hutchinson · 15.4 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 5/5 120 beds · Medicaid
Olivia Restorative Care Center Olivia · 18.2 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 4/5 60 beds · Medicaid
Franklin Restorative Care Center Franklin · 19.6 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 1/5 40 beds · Medicaid
Glenfields Living With Care Glencoe · 23.4 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 108 beds · Medicaid
Bayside Manor Gaylord · 23.5 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 3/5 44 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near Buffalo Lake Health Care Center ›   All nursing homes in Buffalo Lake ›

Compare Buffalo Lake Health Care Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/minnesota/buffalo-lake/buffalo-lake-health-care-center/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.