Miller-Meeks, Iowa delegation urge federal approval of Bettendorf senior facility

Members of Iowa’s Congressional delegation are urging the federal agency that administers Medicare services to approve an application for a senior health services facility in Bettendorf.

In July, UnityPoint Health announced it would soon open a new facility that aimed to connect seniors with medical and exercise services under one roof in the former Hobby Lobby building in Bettendorf.

The new center, at 2119 Kimberly Rd., is planned have a medical clinic, day center, therapy gym, and other amenities for seniors under one roof.

It would be UnityPoint's second Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in the state. The other is in Sioux City.

UnityPoint is waiting, however, on approval of an application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the new facility, according to the letter.

“The opening of UnityPoint Health PACE Senior Care — Bettendorf is pending approval by our federal partners,” UnityPoint spokesperson Kristy Phillipson wrote in an email. “We appreciate the support of the Iowa delegation to expedite this process.”

UnityPoint's initial goal — reported in July by the Quad-City Times — was to begin taking clients by Sept. 1.

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who represents the congressional district that includes Bettendorf, was joined by Iowa's three other representatives, Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn, and Randy Feenstra, and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, in signing the letter urging the federal agency to approve UnityPoint's application.

“PACE locations serve as a vital lifeline for seniors who seek to live with more independence,” the letter states. “This unique program enables people who would otherwise need to be in a nursing home to remain at home and in their community while still having appropriate access to healthcare services. We strongly support expansion of these programs to ensure that our constituents can make individual healthcare choices that best suit the needs of themselves and their families.”

According to the letter, if the federal agency does not approve the application by Sept. 27, UnityPoint would have to wait until Dec. 27 to reapply.

UnityPoint plans to submit applications for two additional PACE sites in Waterloo and Hiawatha, and each application must be completed before another can be submitted, according to the letter.

“Delays will negatively impact older adults not just in Bettendorf but in Waterloo and Hiawatha as well,“ the letter states.

The new Bettendorf clinic is planned to be open to residents of Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties who are 55 years of age or older, meet state criteria for nursing facility level of care and are able to safely live at home.

The clinic would offer full primary care with a day center open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lunch would be served daily with games and recreation, recreational therapy and durable equipment for on-site physical therapy. PACE also would have its own transportation with two wheelchair accessible vans for participants who need help getting to the center.

Gretchen Teske of the Quad-City Times contributed to this report.