IA Redirects Funds Intended for Nursing Home Inspectors

Back in February, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad cut 10 of the state's 38 nursing home inspectors. That decision rankled the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and the agency pushed for money to re-hire those inspectors.

State lawmakers allocated funding to the agency, but didn't specify that the money had to be used for the inspectors' salaries. Instead, the agency has determined that two-thirds of the $650,000 will be used for the general operation of the department's Health Facilities division and the remaining one-third will be dedicated to increasing oversight of the state's 188 residential care facilities for disabled Iowa residents.

Nursing home resident advocates are criticizing the decision, but the agency defended its decision, saying investigations have shown that there is actually not a need to restore the 10 inspector positions.

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