Des Moines — Iowa state Sens. Claire Celsi and Janice Weiner released the following statements regarding Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand’s new report on Iowa’s failure to meet federal nursing home inspection mandates.
“The auditor’s report released today validates with cold, hard data what we’ve known for months: Gov. Reynolds’ administration is failing to protect seniors in Iowa nursing homes,” Sen. Claire Celsi (D-West Des Moines) said. “Iowa lags behind our neighbors and the country as a whole on key indicators of nursing home resident care and safety. In a state where reports of abuse, neglect, and unnecessary death are a regular occurrence, the consequences of these failures couldn’t be more obvious.”
“The data revealed by the state auditor today is simply unacceptable,” Sen. Janice Weiner (D-Iowa City) said. “We must do better as a state, which is why Senate Democrats have put forward a comprehensive plan to ensure safety, support, and accountability in Iowa nursing homes. Iowa’s seniors cared for us, and it is past time for us to care for them.”
Senate Democrats’ legislative package includes four bills providing a comprehensive approach to improve the quality of long-term care across Iowa and address instances of abuse and neglect.
At the center of the package is Senate File 2304, which increases oversight and requires new transparency and accountability standards for long-term care facilities – ensuring regulators can adequately monitor nursing homes, enforce state law, and issue meaningful penalties for violations to help ensure residents are better protected.
“Senate File 2304 alone would go a long way toward correcting the failures revealed in the auditor’s report,” Celsisaid. “Republicans have so far failed to join us in advancing these commonsense reforms that will address an ongoing crisis in our senior care system.”
Other elements of the package include legislation-expanding alternatives to nursing home care for Iowa seniors; increasing pay for direct care workers to address staffing issues and increasing the personal needs allowance provided to residential care facility residents through Medicaid.
More about the package:
Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability in Long-Term Care: SF 2304
- This bill creates a new Long-Term Care Facility Safety Council, adding citizen review and input into the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing’s oversight of Iowa’s lowest performing care facilities.
- The bill requires more regular facility inspections, stiffer penalties for violations, and hires 30 additional nursing home inspectors.
Alternatives to Institutional Long-Term Care: SF 2306
- The bill launches a robust study of alternatives to institutional long-term care led by a group of advocates. The study will review innovative models for elder care in effect in other states and identify paths forward for Iowa.
- This bill invests in alternatives to institutional care, including home health care, adult day care, and dementia care specialists to enable Iowa seniors to stay at home.
- The bill also expands the Return to Community pilot program to provide coordinated care for Iowans following hospitalization so they can return home, rather than enter and remain in an institutional care facility.
Supporting the Direct Care Workforce: SF 2305
- This bill establishes a $15/hour minimum wage for direct care workers that will rise to $20/hour over a period of years and then match inflation. Increasing the wage offered to direct care workers will help attract direct care workers to Iowa, retain current workers, and encourage younger Iowans to consider entering the profession. The minimum wage is contingent on Medicaid reimbursement rate increases.
Ensuring Independence and Self Care for Residents: SF 2303
- The Iowa Medicaid program currently includes a $50/month personal needs allowance for long-term care residents who rely on Medicaid. That allowance has stayed the same for 20 years, despite rising costs of living. This bill raises the allowance to $85/month, allowing residents to purchase self-care items and live more independently in long term care facilities.