Des Moines, Iowa — Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley says House Republicans intend to examine the activities of agencies that provide temporary workers, like traveling nurses, in Iowa nursing homes.
Grassley says it appears the agencies are also “poaching” staff from nursing homes.
In December, Senate Democrats called on Senate Republicans to launch an investigation of cases of abuse and neglect in Iowa nursing homes. Grassley says as House members are drafting next year’s budget for the state agency that inspects nursing homes, those issues will be examined, along with nursing home staffing issues in general.
Grassley made his comments on “Iowa Press” on Iowa PBS. Six months ago, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services determined that 42 percent of Iowa nursing homes had a shortage of nurses and other staff who provide direct care to residents. That’s nearly double the national average and Iowa nursing homes have begun to rely on temporary agencies to fill key roles.
