NOT good: http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2...ome-inspectors

Iowa has fired more than a quarter of the inspectors who ensure that elderly Iowans are properly cared for at nursing homes in the state.

Trimming that work force back to 28 inspectors for 442 nursing homes prompted a charge that Gov. Terry Branstad is in league with the nursing home industry.

Former Iowa legislator John Tapscott told The Des Moines Register that nursing homes want less oversight.

"How much clearer can it be that the governor is a pawn of the industry," Tapscott said.

Five months ago, Iowa cited a shortage of state inspectors in warning federal officials that the state was close to falling short of federal standards for oversight of the homes.

When campaigning last year, Branstad said the state needed to collaborate with the industry to ensure quality care, not just punish those homes that fell short of standards.

The 10 workers are paid a combined $500,000 annually to help protect 30,000 Iowans in the nursing homes. A quarter of it — $125,000 — comes from state sources and the rest from federal funds.

Of the 10, six were new hires who had yet to start their inspection jobs. Two of the six already held other state jobs and will be able to keep them.

The head of the inspections department, Rod Roberts, said the state faces serious financial challenges.

"We have to prioritize the personnel that we have to cover the important tasks," Roberts said.

Other staffers in his Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals could be trained as inspectors "to pick up some of the slack," Roberts said.

Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht said Wednesday that there actually are 81 inspectors "who have the exact same qualifications" as those who were let go.

Department spokesman Dave Werning said there are now 28 inspectors assigned to the long-term care area, but the 81 "all have the minimum requirements" to do the inspections.

Some of them have other specialties, Werning said, citing for example the 17 assigned to investigate complaints.

Going forward, Werning said, Roberts will lead his department into reassessing its needs and reconfiguring resources as necessary.

"Unfortunately, the bottom line is living within the bottom line," Werning said.

"I don't believe any nursing home resident is going to be placed in any kind of jeopardy or at risk" as a result of the staff reductions made last week," Werning said.

Branstad's budget proposal in January was nearly $200 million less than the current spending plan.
Albrecht said Wednesday that the governor is "committed to putting this state on a foundation for the future."