More than 50 Iowa nursing homes owe nearly $14 million in unpaid fees related to Medicaid. Payment plans have been established for most, with debts expected to be cleared by September 2025. Major debtors include Accura Healthcare and Pacifica Health Services, both under scrutiny for financial violations affecting operations. Continue reading More than 50 Iowa nursing homes have agreed to repay taxpayers $13.9 million
OptumRx, a company awarded a state contract for managed-care services in Iowa, is seeking to block the state from disclosing certain information in its bid, claiming it as a trade secret. The information includes employee and client management, customer references, and project management details. MedImpact, a competing company, is seeking the unredacted bid. Continue reading Winning bidder on state Medicaid contract wants its full bid kept secret
Iowa nursing home companies owe over $10.7 million in unpaid fees, with one company’s executives making significant political donations. The state lacks enforcement authority to collect these fees, leading to concerns about misuse of Medicaid reimbursement funds. Advocates are calling for an investigation to ensure proper use of additional revenue and to address the industry’s lack of compliance. Continue reading ‘This is scandalous:’ Auditor asked to examine $10.7 million owed to taxpayers
Iowans using wheelchairs through the state Medicaid program will no longer need a prescription and in-person doctor visit for repairs, after advocacy by State Rep. Josh Turek prompted a policy change. These delays caused by the prescription requirement kept some Iowans with disabilities homebound for significant periods. Turek also plans to advocate for faster repair authorization processes in the future. Continue reading State lifts prescription requirement for wheelchair repair through Medicaid
49 Iowa nursing homes owe taxpayers over $10.7 million in unpaid fees, utilized to boost Medicaid reimbursements. Some for-profit companies, like one in West Des Moines, owe substantial amounts while their executives make political donations. Amid the non-payment issue, questions arise about frontline caregivers’ pay increases. State action and bankruptcy filings underscore the complexity of the situation. Continue reading Iowa nursing homes owe taxpayers $10.7 million in unpaid fees
Nurse Ryan Tagge seeks judicial review after being placed on Iowa’s child abuse registry for allegedly endangering a 1-year-old relative. Tagge’s lawyers claim he hallucinated after taking medication and thought his wife was the devil, leading to an incident where he held onto the child and allegedly shook her. Tagge faces potential consequences for his nursing career. Continue reading Nurse fights abuse ruling, says Mucinex overdose sparked satanic hallucinations
The western Iowa man suspected of sexually assaulting an Iowa nursing home resident was the subject of a prior police complaint that “fell off the radar” without being pursued by authorities, according to police officials.The home’s parent company, Care Initiatives of West Des Moines, continued to provide work for the man in other Iowa nursing homes that it operates, inspectors found.
Seven months before the alleged rape, in March 2023, the suspect in the case was working through a temp agency at Friendship Home in Audubon when a female co-worker complained to management that the man had been making suggestive remarks to his female colleagues, sent them photos of himself masturbating. Continue reading Correctionville nursing home rape suspect was subject of prior police complaints
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