By Healthcare Facilities Today

Gov. Terry Bransaid said recently he was unaware that Iowa is inspecting hospice-care facilities about once every 20 years, but said there’s no need to hire inspectors or take any action that might drive up costs for private health care companies, according to an article in the Des Moines Register.

Also, the Register reported, Iowa exercises no oversight of privately funded home health agencies; cannot impose fines on hospitals or hospital−owned nursing homes; and doesn't require licensing or state inspection of out-patient surgical centers.

Asked if Iowa is doing all that it should to regulate health care providers, the article quoted Branstad as saying, “I think we are very interested in working to improve patient care and to educate people about that. I don’t think that necessarily means we have to hire a lot of additional state inspectors. I think there can be other ways to do this.”

As for the 20-year inspection cycle for hospice providers, Branstad said, “I guess I don’t know where you get that information, because I’m not aware of that. I do know my father went through hospice in Mason City. He was treated very well. I have had experience with other friends who have gone through hospice and I guess I am not aware that there is a significant problem with hospice.

There are several unlicensed hospice providers that avoid even the 20-year inspections because they are run by out-of-state companies. Iowa’s inspectors don't have the authority to investigate them, and the inspectors in the companies’ home states are barred from entering Iowa to conduct on-site investigations of Iowa-based facilities.

Read the article.