Health and habilitation professionals in the Department's Health Facilities Division inspect, license and/or certify under the Medicare and Medicaid Programs more than 4,000 health care providers and suppliers in the State of Iowa. Among the regulated providers and suppliers are long-term care facilities, hospitals, hospices, end-stage renal disease units, rural health clinics, and child-placing agencies. Survey teams from the Division conduct unannounced on-site inspection at health care facilities to assess the quality of care and services provided to clients, patients, residents and tenants.  If problems are discovered during an inspection, the Division can initiate corrective and/or disciplinary action to assure a facility's compliance with state and federal rules.

Additionally, the Health Facilities Division staffs the state's Hospital Licensing Board.  The Board advises the Division and the Department on issues impacting the administration of hospitals in the State of Iowa.

Health Facilities Division's Web Site
The Health Facilities Division maintains an extensive web site with valuable information for its stakeholders, including consumers and health care providers and suppliers.  Available through the Division's web site are the Health Facilities Report Cards, which contains the compliance history and inspection reports for Iowa long-term care facilities. Available, too, are copies of the administrative rules governing regulated entities, as well as copies of INSIGHT, the Department's newsletter for health care providers and consumers, alike.  Iowans can access the Health Facilities Division's web site by clicking here.

Adult Services Bureau
Staff in the Adult Services Bureau (ASB) oversees the certification of assisted living programs, elder group homes, and adult day care programs.  Iowans with questions about one of these regulated programs should contact the ASB at (515) 281-6325, or send an e-mail to the Bureau by clicking here.

Nursing Home Compare
For detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing facility in the country, check the federal web site, Nursing Home Compare.  The federal site is maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which also publishes several guides about selecting a nursing home for a loved one.

Additional Health Facilities Division Resources
For additional resources available to health care providers and suppliers, consumers, and DIA stakeholders, click here.