Home Health & Hospice Week

Industry Note:

Midwestern HHAs Hit With Survey Fines

The quote “all publicity is good publicity” may not apply when it comes to survey results and related fines. Two Iowa home health agencies are finding that out the hard way.

Case #1: The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals has fined Iowa Home Care of Ottumwa about $123,000 after issuing 17 citations in a December 2021 survey, and more in followup surveys this year, the Iowa Capital Dispatch newspaper reports. The newspaper recounts the laundry list of infractions found, including many related to medications and care planning.

A DIA spokesperson told the paper that the fine imposed against Iowa Home Care is, to DIA’s knowledge, the only federal fine levied against an Iowa home health care agency in 2022.

Case #2: However, earlier this year a federal judge upheld a fine of $414,000 against another Iowa HHA, Sioux City’s Mercy Home Care, the Capital Dispatch says. That fine was originally imposed in 2016, though.

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