The Health and Long-term Care Access Advisory Council was formed to help the Iowa Department of Public Health achieve the following goals: develop a strategic plan for health care delivery infrastructure and health care workforce resources in Iowa; provide a continuous collection of data to create a basis for health care strategic planning and health care policymaking; and make recommendations on the health care delivery infrastructure and the health care workforce that assist in monitoring current needs, predicting future trends and informing policymaking.

The PRC-RH is one of 37 centers funded by the Centers for Disease Control’s Prevention Research Center Program. The program conducts applied public health research, creates health promotion and disease prevention strategies that bring long-term benefits to communities and offers training and technical assistance to the public health community. The PRC-RH is part of the College of Public Health’s Department of Community and Behavioral Health. The focus of the PRC-RH is to improve the health of rural communities in Iowa and the Midwest through participatory research, particularly on nutrition, physical activity and aging.

The University of Iowa Center on Aging is an interdisciplinary center that serves as a state and university-wide resource to address the needs of older Iowans. Sponsored by the University of Iowa Health Care Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine with cosponsorship by the College of Public Health, the center brings together people and resources across the state and from the university’s 11 colleges to help advance aging-related research, education, health care, public policy and other areas associated with the well-being of older adults. The center offers public policy analysis, evaluation, consultation and information on issues related to the health and well-being of older adults. Partnerships with state agencies, federal policymakers, private-sector health providers, other regents' institutions and nonprofit interest groups for elders help address timely policy areas such as mature workforce development, mental health and aging, access to long-term care, Medicare and Medicaid benefits, and community services planning and evaluation.

The Bureau of Adult Mental Health and Disability Services is responsible for developing, overseeing and improving the state system of mental health and disability services for adults in Iowa.

The Prevention and Chronic Care Management Advisory Council provides technical assistance to the director of the Iowa Department of Public Health in developing a state initiative that integrates evidence-based prevention and chronic care management strategies into public and private health care systems, including patient-centered medical home systems.

The Iowa State Board of Health is the policymaking body for the Iowa Department of Public Health. It has the powers and duties to adopt, promulgate, amend and repeal rules and regulations, and advises or makes recommendations on public health, hygiene and sanitation to the governor, general assembly and the director of public health.

This statewide consortium is composed of The University of Iowa (Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nursing), Palmer College of Chiropractic, Aging Resources of Central Iowa, Iowa Health Systems and the Iowa Foundation for Medical Care. The IGEC addresses the challenges raised by meeting the demands of Iowa’s aging, underserved and increasingly diverse rural population by training the faculty, students and health professionals who will teach geriatrics, improve geriatric practice in Iowa, and provide quality care to older Iowans in underserved areas. The IGEC is a member of the nationwide network of geriatric education centers and is funded from the Bureau of Health Professions of the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The Iowa Insurance Division supervises all business transacted in the state. The insurance commissioner oversees companies and individuals in the sale of insurance in Iowa and has general control over all aspects of business, from the forms used to the rates charged.

The program is intended to preserve access to primary and emergency health care services, improve quality of rural health services, provide health services that meet community needs, and foster a health-delivery system that is both efficient and effective.

The Office of Rural Health (ORH) and the Office of Rural Health Advisory Committee were established in 1989 by the Iowa Legislature and designated within the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and located in the Office of Health Planning. By 2002, it transitioned to the Bureau of Health Care Access (BHCA). The BHCA is dedicated to the functions that result in or impact health care access in Iowa. The bureau works closely with the public, other agencies, organizations, entities, and communities to examine issues, find solutions and complete actions regarding health care access. The bureau makes every attempt to communicate and engage in face-to-face dialogue with residents across the state about the issues, policies and challenges affecting health care. BHCA staff also represent IDPH and constituents by serving on a number of state and national boards, committees and initiatives.

The mission of the Iowa Department of Human Services is to help individuals and families achieve safe, stable, self-sufficient and healthy lives, thereby contributing to the economic growth of the state. The department does this by: keeping customer focus; striving for excellence and sound stewardship of state resources; maximizing the use of federal funding and leveraging opportunities; and by working with the department’s public and private partners to achieve results

The Bureau of Family Health promotes the health of Iowa families by providing resources for health care services through public and private collaborative efforts. The bureau advocates for services that are family-centered, community-based and culturally sensitive. Through these efforts, community entities are empowered to develop local health care systems that meet present and future health needs.

The Iowa Board of Nursing Home Administrators evaluates the qualifications of applicants for nursing home administrator licensure and grants licenses to those who qualify. The board establishes rules and regulations to ensure the integrity and competence of licensed Nursing Home Administrators and investigate complaints of unprofessional conduct.

The Health Facilities Division is the designated state survey and certification agency responsible for inspecting and licensing/certifying various health care entities, as well as health care providers and suppliers operating in the state of Iowa. The division investigates complaints alleging improper care or treatment of patients, residents and tenants in licensed and certified entities.

The Bureau of Local Public Health Services promotes and supports public health infrastructure development at the local and state levels. This includes consultation by Regional Community Health Consultants with local boards of health, and technical assistance regarding the boards’ roles and responsibilities. Communities benefit through the increased ability to plan and implement health-promotion activities and to educate the public so they can make healthy choices. Through financial support, education, ongoing technical assistance and monitoring, the bureau supports the development and delivery of services that promote and protect the health of Iowans and contribute to Iowa being a "healthy community."

Extension to Families, the outreach arm of the College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University, works in partnership with other organizations and agencies to meet the needs of Iowa families, providing research-based information and education to help families make decisions that improve and transform their lives.

The Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention & Management supports the development and implementation of services that help Iowans prevent and manage chronic disease. Programs within this bureau focus on specific chronic diseases including arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other conditions. The bureau also works on health-reform initiatives and coordinates activities of the state's Prevention and Chronic Care Management Advisory Council.

Sanctioned by the Iowa Code, the Iowa Commission on Aging is charged with serving as a visible advocate for older Iowans by establishing policies for reviewing and commenting upon all state plans, budgets and policies that affect older individuals. The commission is composed of 11 members, seven of whom are appointed by the governor. At least four of the seven must be 55 years of age or older, and no more than four can belong to the same political party. The remaining four members are senators or representatives, appointed by their chamber of the legislature to serve as nonvoting members. The commission meets at least four times each year.

The Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence (HCGNE) trains nurse-scientists to ensure that evidence-based "best geriatric/gerontological practices" are produced and used by: educational programs that prepare geriatric nurse-clinicians; practicing clinicians and clinical agencies; policymakers who control resources and influence the environments where older people live; and the lay public to enhance self-care and caregiving skills.

The Iowa State Legislature created the Consumer Advocate Bureau to ensure the fair treatment of consumers and to prevent unfair or deceptive trade practices.

The Iowa Department of Public Health partners with local public health policymakers, health care providers, businesses and many others to fulfill its mission of promoting and protecting the health of Iowans.

The Iowa Department on Aging is a state department that advocates the needs of older Iowans, providing education, prevention and health-promotion services.

Staff members work with representatives from Iowa Department of Public Health programs, the media and a wide variety of partners to inform and educate Iowans about health-related issues. The bureau serves as a point of contact for legislators on public health programs, services, statutory requirements and administrative rules.

The Iowa Coalition of Mental Health and Aging was established to address the needs of older Iowans with mental illnesses. The coalition: increases awareness about aging and mental health issues; builds coalition efforts with other aging and mental health advocacy organizations; seeks to increase the number of mental health screenings conducted in nontraditional settings; helps increase access to peer support; identifies and offers existing resources for provider education; and represents aging interests in public policy efforts that address the workforce issue more broadly.

AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that advocates for people ages 50 and older. Since 1958, AARP has lobbied for senior issues, including the passage of Medicare in 1965. AARP offers support from staffed offices in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The IHCA and ICAL represent 600 Iowa nursing homes, assisted-living programs, residential care facilities and independent senior living and retirement communities. IHCA and ICAL are dedicated to enhancing long-term care in Iowa by providing leadership, advocacy, information and education to a broad range of providers, consumers, government agencies and others comprising the long-term care community. IHCA and ICAL are affiliates of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living. The IHCA also administers the Iowa Health Political Action Committee (Iowa Health PAC), providing a voice for long-term care providers with state and federal lawmakers. Iowa Health PAC also works with the IHCA-ICAL Legislative Committee to both identify and provide information on key issues to address with state and federal elected officials and candidates for office.

Health Policy Corp. of Iowa develops and supports initiatives that relate to cost-containment, quality and access of health services in Iowa by: assisting all purchasers and other users in obtaining better value; conducting meaningful research, data collection, analysis and education; and providing leadership in setting community health care goals.

The Iowa Heath Buyers Alliance is an association of health care customers (consumers and purchasers) working together to promote wellness and a patient-centered health system, improve quality, and increase transparency and public disclosure. Members include more than 40 Iowa organizations, which together represent more than 500,000 Iowans.

Older Iowans Legislature’s (OIL) primary mission is to advocate for seniors within the state of Iowa. OIL places special emphasis on the frail elderly: those citizens who have contributed much to our society, but have exhausted their resources and are in need of assistance to lead meaningful lives.

Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS) is a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), a company contracted by the CMS to process Medicare claims. WPS processes Medicare Part A and Part B payments and claims for Jurisdiction 5, which consists of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. WPS also administers Part A and Part B legacy contracts. The Part A legacy contracts are former Mutual of Omaha providers who will eventually transition to Jurisdiction 1 (covered by Palmetto Government Benefit Administrators). They cover Hawaii, Delaware and New York. The Part B legacy contracts cover Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program helps Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries avoid, detect and prevent health care fraud. The goal is to protect older people and to preserve the integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The federal program was created in 1996 by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and amended in 2006 by Titles II and IV of the Older Americans Act. The Iowa chapter of the SMP is run out of the Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging in Waterloo.

Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) are private, mostly not-for-profit organizations, staffed by doctors and other health care professionals, who are trained to review medical care, to help beneficiaries with complaints about the quality of care and to implement improvements in the quality of care available throughout the spectrum of care. QIOs are required under Sections 1152-1154 of the Social Security Act. The Iowa Foundation for Medical Care in West Des Moines is the QIO for the state of Iowa.

The long-term care ombudsman advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The office resolves complaints and educates seniors and long-term care providers about their rights and good care practices. The ombudsman also provides information to the public on nursing homes and other long-term care facilities and services, residents' rights, and legislative and policy issues. In 1978, an amendment to the federal Older Americans Act required every state to have an ombudsman program that addresses complaints and advocates for improvements in the long-term care system. The ombudsman program is administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA).

The Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) were established under the Older Americans Act (OAA) Comprehensive Services Amendments in 1973 to respond to the needs of Americans 60 and older in every local community. The amendments added a new Title V, which authorized grants to local community agencies in every state. The AAAs provide a range of options that allow older adults to choose the home- and community-based services and living arrangements that suit them best. Iowa maintains 13 Area Agencies on Aging to meet the needs of the rapidly growing number of older Iowans.

The State Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is part of a national program called SHIP — the State Health Insurance Assistance Program — that offers counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and to their families. Coordinators provide counseling on Medicare benefits, Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D), Social Security, Medicaid and veterans' benefits. SHIIP was created under section 4360 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. This act authorized the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make grants to states for health advisory services programs for people with Medicare.