facebook tracking NHC Healthcare, Athens, Athens TN: CMS Ratings & Inspections
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NHC Healthcare, Athens

All states › Tennessee › Athens › NHC Healthcare, Athens

1204 Frye St Athens, TN 37303 · Mc Minn County

(423) 745-0434

All 2 nursing homes in Athens, TN (2 take Medicaid)

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 86 certified beds For profit

CMS certification number 445099 · 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 NHC Healthcare, Athens 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 NHC Healthcare, Athens as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall, above the Tennessee average of 3.1. Inspectors issued 8 citations in the last three years. CMS reports no fines or payment denials in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 5 out of 5; for long-term residents, 3 out of 5. Those results differ a lot, so ask about the unit your family member would be on.

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 3.75 hours per resident per day at NHC Healthcare, Athens, about the same as the Tennessee median of 3.66 (US median: 3.72). About 0.51 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.16 hours, 16% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 52.1% of nursing staff left within a year (Tennessee median 48.7%).

Nursing care per resident per day 3.75 hours
Above the Tennessee median of 3.66 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.51 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.16 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 52.1% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 0% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 0 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds86
Residents per day 76 About 88% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipFor profit - Limited Liability company
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceNovember 1971
Part of a chainNational Healthcare Corporation
Legal business nameNHC HEALTHCARE-ATHENS LLC

Paying for care at NHC Healthcare, Athens: Medicare and Medicaid

NHC Healthcare, Athens 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 Tennessee'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 June 10, 2026 and found 1 deficiency. In total, inspectors issued 8 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 8 citations at NHC Healthcare, Athens across 3 inspection dates. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 8 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were administration (2) and resident assessment and care planning (2). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure 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" (tag F0761, level D, June 10, 2026).

June 10, 2026 · 1 citation

DEnsure 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.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0761 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 7, 2026)

August 24, 2023 · 6 citations

DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0550 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 7, 2023)

DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0644 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 7, 2023)

DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0657 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 7, 2023)

DArrange for the provision of hospice services or assist the resident in transferring to a facility that will arrange for the provision of hospice services.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Administration Deficiencies · Tag F0849 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 7, 2023)

DHave the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly

Potential for more than minimal harm · Administration Deficiencies · Tag F0868 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 7, 2023)

DProvide 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 (Oct 7, 2023)

November 20, 2019 · 1 citation

DProvide or obtain dental services for each resident.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0791 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 12, 2019)

Questions to ask on a tour of NHC Healthcare, Athens

  1. Weekend staffing is 16% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
  2. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  3. 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 5/5 5/5 3/5 4/5
August 2026 5/5 5/5 4/5 4/5
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Location

Hospitals near NHC Healthcare, Athens

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

  • 0.1 mi
    Athens Regional Medical Center Athens
    Emergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5
    Median ER visit 2h 28m for patients treated and sent home
  • 13.6 mi
    Sweetwater Hospital Association Sweetwater
    Emergency room ★☆☆☆☆ Medicare overall 1 of 5
    Median ER visit 3h 2m for patients treated and sent home
  • 21.9 mi
    Rhea Medical Center Dayton
    Emergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5
    Median ER visit 2h 50m 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

Life Care Center of Athens Athens · 0.7 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 4/5 128 beds · Medicaid
Starr Regional Health & Rehabilitation Etowah · 7.6 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 3/5 88 beds · Medicaid
Etowah Health and Rehabilitation Etowah · 9.1 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 1/5 120 beds · Medicaid
Decatur Wellness and Rehabilitation Center Decatur · 11.7 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 2/5 88 beds · Medicaid
Waters of Sweetwater a Rehabilitation & Nursing Sweetwater · 11.7 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 1/5 90 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near NHC Healthcare, Athens ›   All nursing homes in Athens ›

Compare NHC Healthcare, Athens with the 3 closest homes side by side ›

Other National Healthcare Corporation nursing homes in Tennessee

Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 72 National Healthcare Corporation 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.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/tennessee/athens/nhc-healthcare-athens/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.