23 of the 97 Medicare-certified nursing homes in Utah (24%) are government-run, and all are listed below. 6 of the 23 graded homes earn an A and 2 earn a D or F. Nurse staff turnover runs 45.1%, 5.6 points lower than the 50.7% across all homes there. Mervyn Sharp Bennion Central Utah Veterans Home in Payson grades highest at A (99 out of 100).
How government-run homes in Utah compare
This group set against every nursing home in Utah, from the current CMS release.
Four Corners Regional Care Center runs on 2.91 nursing hours per resident day, roughly a quarter below the national average, and weekend coverage drops about 12% below what it manages on weekdays. With 67.4% of staff turning over each year, well above the 45.8% national figure, that thin coverage is coming from a constantly changing workforce. The county runs the place, and its inspection record shows 26 deficiencies, including two at the harm level and two tied to abuse, plus one fine of $68,471. The last inspection was in January 2025, so the record is current. Quality scores look decent, but staffing is where the risk sits.
San Rafael Health and Rehabilitation runs on county money and 51 beds in Ferron, and its staffing hours land right at the national average, close enough that there's no real cushion. What stands out is the churn: more than half the nursing staff turns over in a year, and weekend coverage drops about 19% below weekday levels. The inspection record is where things get serious. Twenty-seven deficiencies, six of them involving harm or jeopardy, four tied to abuse, plus two fines near $29,000 and a spot in CMS's Special Focus Facility program. Inspectors were last there in November 2024. County ownership doesn't change what those numbers say.
Monument Healthcare South Salt Lake is a 140-bed hospital-district home that the federal government has flagged for its Special Focus Facility program, a designation reserved for the homes with the most persistent compliance problems. The record backs that up: 57 deficiencies, nine of them serious enough to endanger residents, six tied to abuse, and two fines totaling $36,546. Its last inspection was in June 2025.
Nursing hours come in slightly under the national average, and weekends run about 15% thinner than weekdays, when supervision is already stretched. The quality-measure score looks good on paper, but that number reflects resident assessments, not the day-to-day care and oversight problems regulators keep finding here. Staff turnover sits just above the national rate.
Frequently asked questions
How many government-run nursing homes are there in Utah?
There are 23 government-run Medicare-certified nursing homes in Utah, 24% of the 97 nursing homes there.
Are government-run nursing homes better staffed?
In Utah they average 3.86 total nursing hours per resident per day, against 4.09 for all nursing homes in Utah, a difference of -0.23 hours. Staff turnover averages 45.1% against 50.7%.
Which government-run nursing home grades best in Utah?