The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) has once again met federal requirements set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the federal fiscal year that began Oct. 1, 2024, and ended Sept. 30, 2025 (FFY2025).
Each year, CMS establishes guidelines for state survey agencies (SAAs) like DIAL, which oversee health care facility surveys and complaint investigations to protect the health and safety of Iowans. These requirements ensure surveys are completed on time, complaint investigations are prioritized appropriately, and off-hours survey activity occurs during weekends.
DIAL successfully met these federal requirements for FFY2025, reflecting the agency’s continued commitment to protecting vulnerable populations across the state.
For FFY2025, CMS continued to emphasize survey timeliness, quality, and accountability. States were required to:
- Conduct at least 5% of all standard nursing home surveys during off-hours (evenings, weekends, or holidays).
Complete at least 10% of standard nursing home surveys during off-hours.
Investigate immediate jeopardy (IJ) complaints within two business days.
Accurately report survey data and results to CMS.
- Conduct recertification surveys for each nursing home no more than 15.9 months after the last completed survey.
Additionally, although DIAL is not being measured on statewide survey average, DIAL ensured the average interval (months) between consecutive standard nursing home surveys was not greater than 12.9 months. DIAL achieved an average number of months between consecutive surveys of 11.32.
"Meeting these rigorous federal standards demonstrates the dedication of our survey staff to ensuring Iowans receive safe, high-quality care in licensed facilities,” said DIAL Director Larry Johnson, Jr. “The department remains focused on consistent, thorough, and fair oversight to uphold public trust."
CMS evaluates every state’s compliance annually. Iowa’s consistent performance highlights DIAL’s role as a trusted partner in maintaining health and safety protections statewide.
For more information about FFY2025 CMS requirements, visit: CMS Admin Info 25-03.
To learn more about CMS' changing performance measures since 2020, listen to season one, episode three of the department's DIALED IN podcast.