All states › South Dakota › Milbank › Avantara Milbank
1103 South Second Street Milbank, SD 57252 · Grant County
All 2 nursing homes in Milbank, SD (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 435009 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Avantara Milbank 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 Avantara Milbank as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 1 out of 5 stars overall, below the South Dakota average of 3.0.
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.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 3.35 hours per resident per day at Avantara Milbank, below the South Dakota median of 3.69 (US median: 3.72). About 0.72 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.98 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 91.8% of nursing staff left within a year (South Dakota median 46.5%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there. 2 administrators left in the past year.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Avantara Milbank: Medicare and Medicaid
Avantara Milbank 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 South Dakota'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 July 9, 2026 and found 1 deficiency, plus 12 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 30 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 30 citations at Avantara Milbank across 7 inspection dates, 20 of them from complaint investigations. 8 were at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on May 7, 2026. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (9) and freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (5). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services" (tag F0740, level G, May 7, 2026). 5 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
July 9, 2026 · 1 citation
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
May 7, 2026 · 12 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
GEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
EHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
EProtect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money.
EProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
March 13, 2025 · 5 citations · includes complaint inspection
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EHonor each resident's preferences, choices, values and beliefs.
EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
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.
December 18, 2024 · 3 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
October 8, 2024 · 3 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
GRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
GProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
August 6, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
November 8, 2023 · 5 citations, includes actual harm
GEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Questions to ask on a tour of Avantara Milbank
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on May 7, 2026 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on May 7, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- Nursing staff turnover was 91.8% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- Several administrators left in the past year. What has changed for residents since then?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- 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
4 penalties in the last three years, including $125,981 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2026 | Fine | $70,620 |
| Dec 18, 2024 | Fine | $28,912 |
| Oct 8, 2024 | Fine | $15,041 |
| Nov 8, 2023 | Fine | $11,408 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Avantara Milbank
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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1.1 mi
Milbank Area Hospital/Avera Health - CAH MilbankEmergency roomMedian ER visit 2h 6m for patients treated and sent home
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11.7 mi
Ortonville Area Health Services OrtonvilleEmergency roomMedian ER visit 2h 0m 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
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Other Legacy Healthcare nursing homes in South Dakota
- Avantara Lake Norden · Lake Norden · 5 stars
- Avantara Clark City · Clark · 4 stars
- Avantara Groton · Groton · 3 stars
- Avantara Watertown · Watertown · 3 stars
- Avantara North · Rapid City · 3 stars
- Avantara Mountain View · Rapid City · 2 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 96 Legacy Healthcare nursing homes ›
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.