IHCA Foundation scholarship applications for the 2026–2027 academic year close this Sunday. These scholarship opportunities are for individuals pursuing or advancing a career in long-term care. Designed to support both current long-term care professionals and high school seniors planning to enter the field, these scholarships help invest in the future of long-term care.
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IHCA continues to review the Iowa Administrative Bulletin for potential impacts to long-term care providers. The April 29 and May 13 issues include a newly noticed rule from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services sharing proposed amendments to the requirements for participation in the Professional Counselors Licensure Compact and a regulatory analysis regarding the Civil Money Penalties quality improvement initiative grants.
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Nominations are open for IHCA members in good standing who are interested in serving on the 2027 IHCA Board of Trustees. The nomination form must be submitted by June 27, with voting taking place July 31 through Sept. 8 and newly elected leaders announced at the IHCA Annual Business Meeting during the 2026 Convention on Sept. 15. Positions open include Board officers as well as chair and vice-chair roles for the skilled nursing, assisted living, home care and care continuum provider cabinets.
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The IHCA Foundation is currently offering scholarship opportunities for individuals pursuing or advancing a career in long-term care. Designed to support both current long-term care professionals looking to strengthen their health care or leadership skills and high school seniors planning to enter the field, these scholarships help invest in the future of long-term care. Applications for the 2026–2027 academic year close in less than two weeks; apply today!
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Nominations are now open for IHCA members in good standing who are interested in serving on the 2027 IHCA Board of Trustees. The nomination form must be submitted by June 27, with voting taking place July 31 through Sept. 8 and newly elected leaders announced at the IHCA Annual Business Meeting during the 2026 Convention on Sept. 15. Positions open include Board officers as well as chair and vice-chair roles for the skilled nursing, assisted living, home care and care continuum provider cabinets.
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CMS has released an updated Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) Coverage Guide to help states deliver the full scope of care for children covered by Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program. This guide compiles decades of guidance in one place and serves as a technical assistance tool for state EPSDT staff.
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Iowa Medicaid is notifying managed care organizations and key stakeholders of an upcoming transition involving the Iowa Medicaid Core Standardized Assessment (CSA) contract. Effective July 1, 2026, CareStar, Inc. will assume operational responsibility for the Iowa Medicaid CSA contract, succeeding Telligen, Inc., whose current contract expires June 30, 2026.
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Following IHCA's April Managed Care Organization Call, Iowa Total Care has provided responses and additional clarification on authorization issues related to CareBridge, electronic visit verification (EVV)-related issues, dual-eligible claims and more, which are shared for reference and continued guidance.
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IHCA’s 2026 legislative advocacy delivered significant results for Iowa long-term care providers, including Certified Medication Aide (CMA) reform, over $8 million in Elderly Waiver funding, preservation of key reimbursement protections and a substantial reduction in the impact of proposed property tax increases. Additional wins included addressing managed care claims issues and preventing burdensome legislation from advancing. View the full 2026 Legislative Outcomes Report for a comprehensive overview of the association’s advocacy efforts and legislative achievements during the 2026 session.
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Effective May 12, 2026, home health agencies (HHAs) must begin using the updated Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) Form CMS-R-131 with the new expiration date of March 31, 2029. The previous ABN form version (expiration date Jan. 31, 2026) is no longer valid for notices issued on or after May 12, 2026. Although the updated form includes readability and formatting enhancements, the purpose, content and instructions for use remain largely unchanged.
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The John W. and Kimberly D. Grubb Registered Nurse (RN) Scholarship, made possible by the John R. and Zelda Z. Grubb Charitable Foundation, is available for an employee of an IHCA member organization pursuing an accredited RN degree during the 2026-2027 academic year. One $3,000 scholarship is available. Applications for this scholarship program are open now through May 31, 2026. Additionally, applications for all IHCA Foundation scholarship programs will close in less than three weeks; submit your applications today!
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On Thursday, April 23, IHCA hosted its monthly Home Care Provider Update Call to discuss the most recent changes and updates for the home health and home care professions. Conversation covered Medicare claims audit updates, legislative outcomes, reimbursement issues, regulatory updates, IHCA Foundation scholarship opportunities and more.
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IHCA has been actively engaged with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to advocate on behalf of members regarding the interpretation of supported community living and home health aide services in group home settings. Iowa DHHS has issued guidance outlining its interpretation and expectations moving forward.
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On April 30, the Iowa Total Care provider relations team released a provider alert regarding person-centered service plans (PCSPs) and level of care assessments. While Iowa Total Care continues to enhance the functionality of the Availity Portal, PCSPs and level of care assessments can be found on its Legacy Portal.
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The MolinaCares High School Scholarship, made possible by the Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation (MolinaCares), is now available for Iowa high school seniors who are in their senior year of high school during the 2025-2026 academic year and interested in pursuing a nursing career in long-term care. A total of nine $2,000 scholarships are available. Applications for this scholarship program are open now through May 31, 2026.
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IHCA continues to review the Iowa Administrative Bulletin for potential impacts to long-term care providers. The April 15 issue includes a newly noticed rule from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services outlining procedures for record check evaluations. These will be used to determine employment eligibility for individuals with certain criminal convictions or founded abuse findings in health care settings and related training programs.
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The IHCA Foundation is now offering two different scholarship opportunities for new and experienced directors of nursing (DONs), made possible by Care Initiatives. The Care Initiatives New DON Scholarship is made for new DONs to attend the DON Fundamentals - A Playbook for New Nurse Leaders Program in October and the Care Initiatives DON Leadership Scholarship is made for DONs to attend the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) Director of Nursing Services (DNS-CT) Program in December. Applications for these scholarship programs are open now through May 31, 2026.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Iowa City, Eldridge, Glidden and more.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Ankeny, Iowa City, Eldridge and more.
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Electronic visit verification (EVV) continues to be an important requirement for providers delivering Medicaid-funded services — but we know implementation hasn’t been without challenges. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is actively seeking provider feedback on issues related to EVV. Please share your feedback with the Iowa Medicaid EVV team by this Friday, April 24.
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The Iowa Total Care Long-Term Care Workforce Scholarship, made possible by Iowa Total Care, is for employees at IHCA member organizations enrolled or accepted in an accredited long-term care degree program. A total of nine $1,500 scholarships are available. Applications for this scholarship program are open now through May 31, 2026.
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The IHCA Foundation is excited to announce scholarship opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing or advancing a career in long-term care. Applications for the 2026–2027 academic year opened today, April 15, and will remain open through May 31. These scholarships will support both current long-term care professionals seeking to enhance their health care or leadership skills and high school seniors planning to pursue an education in long-term care.
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Electronic visit verification (EVV) continues to be an important requirement for providers delivering Medicaid-funded services — but we know implementation hasn’t been without challenges. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is actively seeking provider feedback on issues related to EVV. Please share your feedback with the Iowa Medicaid EVV team by Friday, April 24.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Ankeny, Montrose, Eldridge and more.
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IHCA reports that HF 2680 – one of its top 2026 priorities – has passed the legislature and would streamline certified medication aide (CMA) requirements while creating a statewide online registry to help providers verify credentials and reduce fraud. In addition, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has released a proposed SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) model that ties a portion of Medicaid reimbursement to quality performance, though it would be implemented as an add-on and still requires federal approval and legislative funding. IHCA is continuing to review the proposal and will keep members updated on next steps.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Ankeny, Waterloo, Malvern, Council Bluffs and more.
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Registration is still open for the CMS Region Seven Fraud Awareness: Lunch and Learn Series. The first session of this four-part series launches tomorrow, April 9. Each 30-minute webinar features presentations from federal and state partners on a variety of important fraud-related topics.
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The IHCA Foundation will soon announce scholarship opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing or advancing a career in long-term care. Applications for the 2026–2027 academic year will open next Wednesday, April 15 and will remain open for applications through May 31. Full details, including eligibility requirements, application guidelines and submission materials, will be shared in next week’s Clinical and Executive Updates.
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Iowa Medicaid recently released its quarterly newsletter. Key areas of focus include upcoming monthly town hall dates, Iowa Wellness Plan Demonstration Annual Forum details, new Medicaid events, Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME) project updates, managed care plan updates, a new 'Flourish' magazine from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and more.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Ankeny, Altoona, Eldridge, Dubuque and more.
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IHCA’s Spring Conference, presented by BCG, kicks off this afternoon at The Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona. The opening general session will begin at 12:45 p.m. Over the next two days, attendees will take part in 30+ education sessions, connect with peers and industry partners and earn up to 10.0 contact hours across a range of timely topics. If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time to join us.
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The Fee for Service (FFS) Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN), Form CMS-R-131, has been updated. The updated form is effective now and expires March 2029. Providers may continue to use the expired version of the form until May 12, 2026, but must begin using the approved form no later than that date. This ABN is used in nursing facilities and other provider types to transfer potential financial liability for items/services (such as outpatient therapy) expected to be denied under Medicare Part B only.
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The IHCA Foundation will soon announce scholarship opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing or advancing a career in long-term care. Applications for the 2026–2027 academic year are expected to open in mid-April and will remain open through May 31.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Ankeny, Waterloo, Eldridge, Oskaloosa, Iowa City and more.
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On Thursday, March 12, IHCA held its monthly Home Care Provider Update Call to discuss important developments in home health and home care. Conversation covered the OASIS E-2 system, changes to patient care measures and surveys, key bills moving through state legislature, Spring Conference announcements and medication error reporting and denials.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Ankeny, Iowa City, Eldridge, Newton, Hiawatha, Harlan and Clarinda.
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IHCA continues to review the Iowa Administrative Bulletin for potential impacts to long-term care providers. The March 4 issue includes a proposed rule from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services outlining procedures for record check evaluations. These will be used to determine employment eligibility for individuals with certain criminal convictions or founded abuse findings in health care settings and related training programs.
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The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is seeking qualified nurses to serve on item writing and review panels for the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN exams, which are designed to assess the knowledge and skills needed for safe, entry-level nursing practice. The influence of post-acute nursing is essential to the applicability of the NCLEX exam for nurses. Participation allows nurses to influence the exam’s applicability, contribute to the profession, earn continuing education credit and network nationally and internationally. Volunteer opportunities are held in Chicago, with travel expenses covered.
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CMS has officially published the final versions of the OASIS E-2 data set, OASIS E-2 manual and OASIS E-2 Q&A documents. OASIS-E2 is scheduled for implementation on April 1, 2026. Minor differences between the drafted and the finalized data set include typo corrections, a revised definition and a citation addition.
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More than 50 long-term care leaders gathered at the Iowa Capitol last week for IHCA Day on the Hill, presented by Martin Bros. Distributing Co., Inc., to meet with legislators and advocate for the profession. Members shared how policy decisions impact residents, staff and communities while highlighting IHCA’s 2026 priorities, including workforce solutions, home- and community-based services and sustainable funding for long-term care. The event provided an important opportunity for policymakers to hear directly from providers delivering care across Iowa.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Burlington, Ankeny, Montrose, Iowa City, Waterloo, Eldridge, Council Bluffs, Denison, Cedar Rapids and Urbandale.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Ankeny, Red Oak, Glenwood, Eldridge and Dubuque.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has announced free competency-based training (CBT) opportunities for Iowa long-term services and supports providers. Upcoming sessions will address service documentation and monitoring best practices as well as early and periodic screening, diagnostic and treatment (EPSDT) requirements, with content tailored to providers, direct support professionals and case managers. All trainings will be recorded and made available through the agencies’ online training archive and Learning Management System.
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Several key bills affecting long-term care providers and IHCA members have advanced in the 2026 Iowa legislative session, including measures related to Medicaid elderly waiver services, certified medication aides, claims payment and audits, guardianship, property tax, Certificate of Need and rural access. These proposals could impact operations, workforce capacity, reimbursement and access to care across skilled nursing, assisted living and other care settings. IHCA continues to monitor and engage with lawmakers to support policies that strengthen the workforce, improve provider sustainability and ensure high-quality care for Iowans.
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Home health agencies are evaluated on their ability to prevent hospitalizations during care and for 31 days after discharge through the Potentially Preventable Hospitalization (PPH) and Discharge to Community Post-Acute Care measures. Agencies can improve performance by strengthening case management, enhancing patient and caregiver education, promoting timely communication, optimizing medication management and incorporating strategic touch points, including post-discharge follow-up. Provider Insights has provided a script for post-discharge check-in calls to assist in identifying risks after discharge.
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IHCA’s Spring Conference, presented by BCG, will be held March 25–26 at The Meadows Events & Conference Center in Altoona. Sessions will focus on leadership, workforce, compliance, reimbursement and quality improvement, with up to 10.0 contact hours available for a range of care professionals. Limited rooms remain at Prairie Meadows Hotel, with an additional room block available at the Comfort Inn Altoona across the street.
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IHCA’s Day on the Hill on March 4 will bring long-term care leaders to the Iowa Capitol to meet directly with legislators and share how policy decisions impact residents, tenants, patients, staff and communities across Iowa. This event, sponsored by Martin Bros. Distributing Co., Inc., plays a key role in advancing IHCA’s advocacy priorities during the legislative session. Please RSVP by this Friday, Feb. 27, to secure your spot.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Waterloo, Iowa City, Eldridge, Council Bluffs, Wilton, Oskaloosa, Coralville, Bettendorf, Urbandale, DeWitt, Marion and Ankeny.
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Skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities and ID/DD centers must maintain a respiratory protection program to comply with OSHA and CMS requirements, ensuring employee and resident safety from airborne hazards. AHCA/NCAL and MCA Consulting are offering a comprehensive Respiratory Protection Plan toolkit and training, including customizable templates, forms and videos to help providers achieve compliance. The resource is being offered via a discounted three-year subscription, giving facilities everything needed to meet federal respiratory protection and emergency preparedness standards.
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Iowa officials, including Gov. Kim Reynolds, announced the launch of the new Health Care Professional Incentive Program, backed by nearly $8 million in first-year funding to recruit and retain medical professionals in high-need and rural counties. The program offers income bonuses or federal student loan repayment to eligible health care providers who commit to working in underserved areas for up to five years full-time or seven years part-time. The initiative consolidates five previous state incentive programs into one streamlined effort to strengthen Iowa’s health care workforce pipeline and improve access to care. The application deadline is March 31, 2026.
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CMS has updated the MLN Booklet titled, "Medicare Billing: CMS 1450 & 837I." The updated guidance has added COVID-19 vaccinations to its roster billing options. More information about roster billing can be found on the CMS website.
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IHCA’s Day on the Hill on March 4 will bring long-term care leaders to the Iowa Capitol to meet directly with legislators and share how policy decisions impact residents, tenants, patients, staff and communities across Iowa. This event, sponsored by Martin Bros. Distributing Co., Inc., plays a key role in advancing IHCA’s advocacy priorities during the legislative session. Members are encouraged to RSVP by Feb. 27 and review IHCA’s 2026 Legislative + Policy Agenda in advance.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Winterset, Ankeny, Murray, Webster City, Fairfield, Spencer, Fredericksburg, Newton, Eldridge, Cedar Rapids, Harlan, Allison, Dubuque, Waterloo and Iowa City.
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IHCA is monitoring the Jan. 21 and Feb. 4 Iowa Administrative Bulletin for items that may impact members, with several adopted rule updates from the Department of Inspections and Appeals tied to the state’s Red Tape Review (Executive Order 10). The updates include repromulgated chapters and new standards for health care facility audits, elder group homes, assisted living programs and adult day services, specifically addressing certification processes, incident investigations and medication handling.
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Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is seeking public comments through this Friday, Feb. 13, on a proposal to redesign its Medicaid HCBS waiver system under the HOME project, replacing six disability-based waivers with two new waivers (Children and Youth, and Adults with Disabilities) while keeping the Elderly Waiver. The redesign aims to simplify the system, better match services to individual needs and support people with disabilities in living at home rather than in institutions. The transition would occur in phases starting in late 2026, with all changes subject to CMS approval after the public comment process.
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Iowa Medicaid and Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) have announced the FFY 2025 SUPPORT Act reporting survey, which collects data on providers’ compliance with required Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) checks before prescribing controlled substances to most Medicaid members. The survey supports Iowa’s annual Medicaid Drug Utilization Review reporting to CMS and applies to prescribing practices from October 2024 through September 2025. Providers must complete the survey by March 31, 2026.
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IHCA’s Day on the Hill on March 4 will bring long-term care leaders to the Iowa Capitol to meet directly with legislators and share how policy decisions impact residents, tenants, patients, staff and communities across Iowa. This event, sponsored by Martin Bros. Distributing Co., Inc., plays a key role in advancing IHCA’s advocacy priorities during the legislative session. Members are encouraged to RSVP by Feb. 27 and review IHCA’s 2026 Legislative + Policy Agenda in advance.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Ankeny, Forest City, Waterloo, Roland, Denver, Algona, Denison, Davenport and Parkersburg.
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Registration is now open for IHCA’s Spring Conference, presented by BCG, taking place March 25–26 in Altoona. This two-day event will offer practical, Iowa-specific education across leadership, workforce, compliance, reimbursement and quality, with up to 10.0 contact hours available for a wide range of long-term care professionals. The discounted hotel room rate is available through Feb. 27.
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The SING system received an overdue upgrade, going live on Jan. 25, with the old platform set to sunset on Feb. 28. Members must use the new SING portal for results, which are only available for 30 days, and access requires setting up an OKTA account through their agency admin. The old system remains available only for retrieving past submissions, and organizations are advised to download all necessary results before the deadline.
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IHCA’s Day on the Hill on March 4 will bring long-term care leaders to the Iowa Capitol to meet directly with legislators and share how policy decisions impact residents, tenants, patients, staff and communities across Iowa. This event, sponsored by Martin Bros. Distributing Co., Inc., plays a key role in advancing IHCA’s advocacy priorities during the legislative session. Members are encouraged to RSVP by Feb. 27 and review IHCA’s 2026 Legislative + Policy Agenda in advance.
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IHCA encourages members to attend upcoming legislative town halls as a practical way to support grassroots advocacy and connect directly with elected officials. These local forums provide an opportunity to share real-world perspective on how legislation impacts long-term care and reinforce IHCA’s 2026 priorities. Upcoming events include town halls and legislative forums in Ankeny, Sumner, Emmetsburg, Ida Grove, Dubuque, Storm Lake and Nashua.
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The Iowa Insurance Division’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) reminds Iowans of upcoming Medicare deadlines, including the March 31, 2026, deadline to make changes during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. Iowans affected by cancelled Medicare Advantage or Part D plans have until Feb. 28, 2026, to enroll in new coverage, with some eligible for guaranteed issue Medigap policies. SHIIP offers free, confidential counseling to help beneficiaries understand their options and make informed decisions.
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Join IHCA on March 10 for Documentation Reimagined – How AI is Reshaping Home Health Operations. This webinar will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve home health documentation and workflows. The one-hour session will explore AI-driven strategies to reduce clinician burden, enhance accuracy and support regulatory compliance. Attendees will gain practical insights to boost operational efficiency, clinician satisfaction and patient care outcomes, as well as earn 1.0 contact hour.
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OSHA has two key injury and illness recordkeeping compliance deadlines for 2026. Employers must post the OSHA Form 300A (Summary of 2025 Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) by Feb. 1, 2026, and keep it posted through April 30, 2026. Required data must also be submitted electronically through OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application by March 2, 2026, depending on establishment size and industry. OSHA and AHCA/NCAL resources are available to help long-term care providers determine coverage and complete recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
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CMS has launched a new online form that allows providers to submit beneficiary-focused complaints about Medicare Advantage (MA) plans directly to CMS. Submitted complaints are routed through the CMS Health Plan Management System for review and tracking, without being sent to the MA plans themselves. AHCA supports this new provider-initiated complaint process and encourages providers to use it to report ongoing access and care-delivery issues, helping CMS identify systemic problems and improve plan oversight.
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Effective Feb. 1, Iowa Total Care will conduct quarterly reviews of Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provider documentation as part of ongoing service monitoring. Community-based case managers will review records during member visits to ensure services are delivered as outlined in each member’s person-centered service plan. Providers must have relevant documentation available, including service plans, logs, medication records, financial documents and incident reports.
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CMS is transitioning the CLIA program to a fully electronic system, meaning nursing homes that perform lab testing must switch to paperless notifications, fee coupons and certificates by March 1, 2026. After that date, paper CLIA fee coupons and paper certificates will no longer be issued (with exceptions for CLIA-exempt states or state licensure). Facilities can opt in by notifying their state agency in writing or by completing the CMS-116 form to receive electronic notifications and certificates via email.
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IHCA is monitoring the Dec. 24 and Jan. 7 Iowa Administrative Bulletin for items that may impact members, with several newly noticed Iowa Medicaid and waiver-related rule updates tied to the state’s Red Tape Review (Executive Order 10). The updates include proposed changes to waiver services, payment methods, provider policies and conditions of participation, managed care and covered services, along with an adopted rule increasing the State Supplementary Assistance personal needs allowance from $50 to $55.
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The 2026 Iowa legislative session is underway, and IHCA is advocating at the Capitol for policies that support long-term care providers across the state. IHCA’s priorities include strengthening the CNA and CMA workforce pipeline, improving access to care through a more sustainable Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Elderly Waiver and securing funding to support critical long-term care services. To connect directly with legislators on these issues, mark your calendar for IHCA Day on the Hill, happening March 4, 2026.
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As we kick off 2026, IHCA President and CEO Brent Willett reminds members that work in long-term care isn’t a tragedy — it’s a calling that requires resilience, skill and professionalism. He reaffirms IHCA’s commitment to elevating the work of providers and advocating for the fairness, respect and recognition the profession has earned.
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Effective Jan. 1, 2026, all Wellcare (Medicare) prior authorization requests for certain services will transition from Evolent to Wellcare, with no changes to Iowa Total Care (Medicaid) processes. Affected services include advanced and cardiac imaging, therapies, select surgeries, oncology services and interventional pain management, with all requests required to be submitted through Wellcare’s secure provider portal.
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As part of Iowa Total Care's ongoing work to improve the prior authorization (PA) process for both providers and members, Iowa Total Care is sharing some important updates to their PA requirements. Their goal is to reduce administrative burden, simplify submission and approval processes and facilitate timely access to appropriate, high-quality care. Code changes will become effective on April 1, 2026.
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Iowa Medicaid and Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) have announced upcoming updates to Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver service names, procedure codes and Attendant Care forms, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The changes affect multiple waivers, including AIDS/HIV, Brain Injury, Elderly, Intellectual Disabilities and Physical Disability, and will align service names and codes with updated Medicaid fee schedules. Providers are encouraged to review the implementation guidance and prepare their systems in advance, as a revised Attendant Care form will also be released to support Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) and documentation requirements.
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As 2026 approaches, Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) measures continue to evolve, with performance from multiple years influencing future payment adjustments. Provider Insights’ 2026 HHVBP comparison sheet helps agencies understand how 2024 and 2025 performance data connect to updated measures taking effect in 2026, providing a clear, at-a-glance view to support planning and compliance.
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On Thursday, Dec. 11, IHCA hosted its monthly Home Care Provider Update Call to discuss the most recent changes for the home health and home care profession. The main discussion focused on CMS's final rule for home health payments, which included changes to rates, quality reporting and implementation of a new Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) E2 system. The conversation ended with updates on Low Utilization Payment Adjustment (LUPA) rates and survey delays.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. The bi-weekly areas of note found in the Nov. 12, Nov. 26 and Dec. 10 issues of the Iowa Administrative Bulletin include regulatory analyses related to Medicaid waiver services, conditions of participation for providers of medical and remedial care, adopted and filed rule related to conditions of eligibility, newly noticed rules related to assisted living programs, health care facility audits, adult day care and more.
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IHCA’s new on-demand webinar, "Home Health Final Rule 2026 – What You Need to Know," features expert insights from home health consultant Annette Lee of Provider Insights on the key provisions of the CY 2026 Home Health Final Rule. The webinar covers reimbursement and quality reporting changes, offers practical implementation guidance and is approved for 1.0 contact hour for administrators and nurses.
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The Iowa Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) team, in partnership with the managed care organizations, invite you to join for a special Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Enabling Technology Town Hall held tomorrow, Dec. 11, at 2:30 p.m.
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Iowa Medicaid has released the Home Health Low Utilization Payment Adjustment (LUPA) rates effective July 1, 2025. These updated rates apply to home health services delivered under the state Medicaid program for the current fiscal year.
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Iowa Medicaid and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recently released an amended informational letter (IL) 2711 on Dec. 9, 2025. This serves as an amendment to the original IL 2711, published on Nov. 14, 2025. The updates include correcting the citation for Iowa Administrative Code and adding a link to the Telecommunication Technology Guide. The effective date of the IL remains the same.
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IHCA will host a webinar next Wednesday, Dec. 10, led by home health consultant Annette Lee, to review the newly released 2026 Home Health Final Rule. The session will cover changes to reimbursement, quality reporting and compliance requirements, offering practical guidance to help agencies prepare for implementation. The webinar will offer 1.5 contact hours for administrators and nurses.
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On Nov. 28, CMS issued the calendar year (CY) 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate and Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies Competitive Bidding Program Updates Final Rule. CMS has also released a fact sheet accompanying the final rule, along with a fact sheet addressing durable medical equipment competitive bidding provisions. The overall impact of the rule is an estimated -1.3% ($220 million) decrease in payments relative to CY 2025. This is in comparison to a proposed -6.4% ($1.135 billion) decrease in payments relative to CY 2025.
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CMS has issued notices to home health agencies that did not meet Home Health Quality Reporting Program requirements for the CY 2026 annual payment update, with notifications posted in iQIES on Nov. 26, 2025. Medicare administrative contractors will also send follow-up letters, and non-compliant agencies may request reconsideration by Jan. 6, 2026. CMS reminds providers that reconsideration requests must be under 20 MB and cannot contain any protected health information.
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Iowa Medicaid and Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) have issued IL 2717 outlining annual fraud- and abuse-prevention submission requirements for providers or entities receiving $5 million or more in Medicaid payments during a federal fiscal year. Eligible providers must maintain specific written policies and submit the required Attestation of Compliance form (470-5506) by Jan. 31, 2026. Failure to comply may result in sanctions, including suspension or termination from the Iowa Medicaid program.
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CMS has approved a one-year temporary extension and amendment of the "Iowa Wellness Plan" section 1115 demonstration. This approval allows the state to continue operating the demonstration through 2026 and sunsets the waiver of non-emergency medical transportation on Dec. 31, 2026.
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