135C.37 Complaints alleging violations — confidentiality.
A person may request an inspection of a health care facility by filing with the department, certified volunteer long-term care ombudsman, or the office of long-term care ombudsman, a complaint of an alleged violation of applicable requirements of this chapter or the rules adopted pursuant to this chapter. A person alleging abuse or neglect of a resident with a developmental disability or with mental illness may also file a complaint with the protection and advocacy agency designated pursuant to section 135B.9 or section 135C.2. A copy of a complaint filed with a certified volunteer long-term care ombudsman or the office of long-term care ombudsman shall be forwarded to the department. The complaint shall state in a reasonably specific manner the basis of the complaint, and a statement of the nature of the complaint shall be delivered to the facility involved at the time of the inspection. The name of the person who files a complaint with the department, certified volunteer long-term care ombudsman, or the office of long-term care ombudsman shall be kept confidential and shall not be subject to discovery, subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion for its release to a person other than department employees involved in the investigation of the complaint.
[C77, 79, 81, §135C.37]
84 Acts, ch 1227, §3; 85 Acts, ch 186, §2; 89 Acts, ch 241, §3; 89 Acts, ch 321, §28; 91 Acts, ch 107, §4; 99 Acts, ch 129, §6; 2005 Acts, ch 45, §1; 2010 Acts, ch 1062, §1; 2013 Acts, ch 18, §11
Referred to in §135C.38, 135C.40, 135C.46, 135C.48
Structure Iowa Code
Chapter 135C - HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
Section 135C.2 - Purpose — rules — special classifications — protection and advocacy agency.
Section 135C.3 - Nature of care.
Section 135C.4 - Residential care facilities.
Section 135C.5 - Limitations on use.
Section 135C.6 - License required — exemptions.
Section 135C.7 - Application — fees.
Section 135C.8 - Scope of license.
Section 135C.9 - Inspection before issuance — notice of deficiencies.
Section 135C.10 - Denial, suspension, or revocation.
Section 135C.11 - Notice — hearings.
Section 135C.12 - Conditional operation.
Section 135C.13 - Judicial review.
Section 135C.15 - Time to comply.
Section 135C.16 - Inspections.
Section 135C.16A - Inspectors — conflicts of interest.
Section 135C.17 - Duties of other departments.
Section 135C.19 - Public disclosure of inspection findings — posting of citations.
Section 135C.20 - Information distributed.
Section 135C.20B - Governor’s award — quality care.
Section 135C.22 - Applicable to governmental units.
Section 135C.23 - Express requirements for admission or residence.
Section 135C.24 - Personal property or affairs of patients or residents.
Section 135C.25 - Resident advocate committee appointments — duties — disclosure — liability.
Section 135C.26 - Director notified of casualties.
Section 135C.27 - Federal funds to implement program.
Section 135C.28 - Conflicting statutes.
Section 135C.29 - License list to county commissioner of elections.
Section 135C.30 - Operation of facility under receivership.
Section 135C.31 - Discharge of Medicaid patients.
Section 135C.31A - Assessment of residents — program eligibility — prescription drug coverage.
Section 135C.32 - Hospice services covered by Medicare.
Section 135C.34 - Medication aide — certification.
Section 135C.35 - Training of inspectors.
Section 135C.36 - Violations classified — penalties.
Section 135C.37 - Complaints alleging violations — confidentiality.
Section 135C.38 - Inspections upon complaints.
Section 135C.39 - No advance notice of inspection — exception.
Section 135C.40 - Citations when violations found — penalties — exception.
Section 135C.40A - Issuance of final findings.
Section 135C.41 - Licensee’s response to citation.
Section 135C.42 - Informal conference on contested citation.
Section 135C.43 - Judicial review.
Section 135C.43A - Reduction of penalty amount.
Section 135C.44 - Treble fines for repeated violations.
Section 135C.44A - Double fines for intentional violations.
Section 135C.45 - Refund of penalty.
Section 135C.45A - Notification penalty.
Section 135C.46 - Retaliation by facility prohibited.