State Fails Three Critical Federal Oversight Standards

Every year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services assesses and reports on the performance of all state agencies. This annual report determines how well each agency is meeting federal standards ahead of annual nursing home recertifications across the country.

The most recent report from the CMS reveals that Iowa’s nursing home oversight system failed to meet three critical federal inspection standards in 2024.

Where the State Failed to Meet Federal Standards

The state’s Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) fell short of meeting federal performance standards in these three critical areas:

• Conducting off-hour inspections at the worst-performing nursing homes
• Properly documenting immediate jeopardy situations that could cause injury or death to residents
• Timely investigation of emergency room violations in acute-care settings.

Of the 52 state agencies nationwide, only 14 met all federal performance standards in 2024.

Complaints Surge as Resources Remain Stagnant

According to a recent news report, the inspection failures coincide with a 31 percent uptick in complaints against healthcare facilities since 2019. There were over 107,000 complaints filed nationally last year. Most complaints target nursing homes, but hospital complaints have also increased 79 percent over the past five years. State agencies dealing with these mounting challenges have had no increase in funding since 2015, creating resource strains that could compromise the safety of residents.

Inspection Delays Leave Residents Vulnerable

Iowa’s inspection system has struggled to meet federal deadlines consistently. A state audit revealed that inspectors conducted nursing home inspections every 17.1 months on average. This time period goes significantly beyond the required 12.9-month standard. Additionally, 85.4 percent of Iowa’s 403 nursing homes missed the federal requirement for individual facility inspections at least once during recent inspection cycles. While Iowa officials dispute some findings and claim recent improvements, the federal report confirms ongoing systemic issues that may leave vulnerable nursing home residents at risk.

These inspection failures may point to other serious issues in Iowa’s nursing home oversight system. The biggest concern is how these failures impact the safety and quality of care residents receive in these facilities.

Call PKSD If Your Loved One Was Harmed by Negligent Nursing Home Care

At PKSD, we are deeply committed to holding at-fault nursing home facilities accountable for causing harm to elderly residents. When you need legal help for residents injured in Iowa, Wisconsin, and New Mexico, PKSD is there.

Concerned about cost? We offer a FREE, no-risk consultation to determine your legal options. When we represent you, your case is the hands of our experienced nursing home injury lawyers. There are no upfront costs or out-of-pocket fees to pay. We only get paid if you do.

Call PKSD to get started today. 414-333-3333