Federal inspection record · CMS data as of October 1, 2026
Blackfeet Care Center
728 S Government Sq, Browning, MT · (406) 338-2686
- Certified beds
- 47
- Residents per day
- 28
- Ownership
- For-Profit
- Chain
- No chain reported
- Medicare / Medicaid
- Medicare + Medicaid
- Certified since
- July 20, 1989
1
How this home got 1 star
The overall rating isn't an average. CMS starts from the inspection rating and nudges it at most two steps. Here is the arithmetic for this home, using CMS's own rules.
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Health inspections
★★★★★starting point
Everything starts from what state inspectors found on site. This is a ranking against other homes in Montana.
-
Staffing
★★★★★no change
Only a 5-star staffing rating adds a star, and only a 1-star rating removes one. Ratings of 2 to 4 change nothing.
-
Quality measures
★★★★★no change
Same rule: 5 stars adds one, 1 star takes one away. These measures are mostly reported by the home itself.
-
Overall
★★★★★1 of 5
Matches the rating CMS publishes on Care Compare.
2
Where it sits among Montana homes
Blackfeet Care Center carries 211.5 inspection points. That is fewer than 8% of Montana's 59 rated homes.
Inspectors' citations earn points by how serious and how widespread they were (the grid below). CMS then ranks every home in Montana: the 10% with the fewest points get 5 stars, the 20% with the most get 1 star, and the middle 70% split evenly into 2, 3 and 4.
- 5★ 0–31.5 pts
- 4★ 31.5–49.25 pts
- 3★ 49.25–84.75 pts
- 2★ 84.75–135.38 pts
- 1★ over 135.38 pts
Bars show every rated home in Montana by its weighted inspection score. CMS recalibrates the cut points monthly but holds a home's rating until its own score changes, so a home can sit just outside today's band.
3
What inspectors found
38 health citations on record since 2024. Each one gets a letter: the row says how badly residents were affected, the column how many.
Immediate jeopardyResidents at risk of serious injury or death
Actual harmA resident was hurt
Potential for harmNo one was hurt, but could have been
Minimal harmPaperwork-level problems
Read the rows, not the total. Most citations nationwide are a D: one problem, nobody hurt. Rows G–I mean a resident was harmed; J–L mean inspectors found residents in immediate danger of serious injury or death.
Small numbers in each cell are the inspection points CMS assigns per citation. Those points are what the state curve above ranks.
Harm and immediate-jeopardy citations (3)
-
J
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
-
J
Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
-
G
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Everything else, by area of care
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation8F
- D
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
- D
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
- E
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
- E
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
- D
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
- F
Give their staff education on dementia care, and what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are; and how to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
- E
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
- D
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Quality of Life and Care6E
- D
Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
- D
Provide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia.
- D
Provide appropriate colostomy, urostomy, or ileostomy care/services for a resident who requires such services.
- E
Ensure 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.
- D
Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
- D
Provide or get specialized rehabilitative services as required for a resident.
Resident Rights5E
- D
Honor 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.
- D
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
- D
Honor the resident's right to receive visitors of his or her choosing, at the time of his or her choosing.
- D
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
- E
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning5E
- E
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
- D
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
- D
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
- D
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
- D
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Infection Control4F
- D
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
- F
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
- E
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
- D
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Nursing and Physician Services3E
- E
Ensure that the resident and his/her doctor meet face-to-face at all required visits.
- D
Ensure the resident's doctor reviews the resident's care, writes, signs and dates progress notes and orders, at each required visit.
- D
Designate a physician to serve as medical director responsible for implementation of resident care policies and coordination of medical care in the facility.
Administration2F
- F
Develop, implement, and/or maintain an effective training program for all new and existing staff members.
- F
Electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
Pharmacy Service2D
- D
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.
- D
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
Inspection history
2026-03-26
18 health deficiencies · 9 fire-safety deficiencies
Top issue: Freedom from Abuse and Neglect and Exploitation (3 deficiencies)
2025-01-30
8 health deficiencies · 4 fire-safety deficiencies
Top issue: Quality of Life and Care (3 deficiencies)
2024-01-04
12 health deficiencies · 3 fire-safety deficiencies
Top issue: Freedom from Abuse and Neglect and Exploitation (3 deficiencies)
4
Nursing time per resident, per day
Each resident here gets about 4 h 32 min of nursing staff time a day, 52 min of it from a registered nurse.
This home
4 h 32 min
Montana average
4 h 1 min
U.S. average
3 h 54 min
- Registered nurse
- Licensed practical nurse
- Nurse aide
Reported hours from payroll data the home submits to CMS, divided by its daily resident count. Not adjusted for how sick residents are.
5
Fines and payment denials
$176,965 in federal fines on record over the past three years.
| Date | Penalty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-09 | Fine | $22,205 |
| 2026-07-09 | Fine | $23,520 |
| 2026-03-26 | Fine | $102,325 |
| 2026-03-26 | Payment Denial · 3 day denial | $0 |
| 2025-01-30 | Fine | $28,915 |
6
Resident outcomes
Quality measures compared with state and national averages. Most come from assessments the home itself reports.
| Measure | This home | State | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine0.1 pts better | 96.8% | 96.7% | 93.7% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine3 pts better | 97.0% | 94.0% | 95.3% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury1.2 pts better | 3.2% | 4.4% | 3.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms2 pts worse | 8.3% | 6.3% | 13.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight5.1 pts worse | 11.5% | 6.4% | 5.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication1.6 pts better | 13.8% | 15.4% | 19.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication10.1 pts better | 10.6% | 20.7% | 15.4% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained3.4 pts worse | 4.0% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened23.5 pts worse | 39.6% | 16.1% | 12.7% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased6.5 pts better | 12.0% | 18.5% | 13.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder2.5 pts worse | 4.5% | 2.0% | 0.7% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection3.5 pts worse | 6.5% | 3.0% | 1.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence13.4 pts better | 8.7% | 22.1% | 18.3% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers5.5 pts better | 0.7% | 6.2% | 4.5% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine17.4 pts worse | 66.7% | 84.1% | 82.3% |
·
Fire safety
16 life-safety citations (sprinklers, exits, alarms). These don't count toward the star rating.
Smoke6F
- F
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- F
Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
- D
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- D
Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
- F
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- E
Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
Egress5F
- F
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
- D
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
- D
Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.
- D
Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs.
- F
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems3F
- F
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- F
Have a battery powered remote alarm panel in a location accessible by operating personnel.
- F
Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.
Emergency Preparedness2F
- F
List the names and contact information of those in the facility.
- F
Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
·
Other homes nearby
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Northern Pines Rehabilitation And Nursing
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★★★★★- Worst citation, 3 yrs
- J
- Nursing / resident / day
- —
- Fines
- $105,044
-
Montana Veterans Home N H
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- K
- Nursing / resident / day
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-
Whitefish Care And Rehabilitation
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Not rated- Worst citation, 3 yrs
- J
- Nursing / resident / day
- 3 h 22 min
- Fines
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