Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 17 - Aging, Department On
Chapter 2 - Department on Aging
Rule 17-2.9 - Department Complaint and Appeal Procedures

Universal Citation: IA Admin Code 17-2.9

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 13, December 25, 2024

(1) Aggrieved party identified. An aggrieved party is any agency, organization, or individual that alleges that the party's rights have been denied or that services provided were not in compliance with regulations or were substandard because of an action of the department, the commission on aging, an AAA, an AAA subcontractor, or a Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) subgrantee.

(2)Complaints or appeals to the department from the AAA or SCSEP subgrantee level.

a. Except in cases where an AAA is acting in its capacity as a Medicaid provider, complaints at the AAA or SCSEP subgrantee level by any aggrieved party shall be heard first by the AAA or SCSEP subgrantee using the AAA's or SCSEP subgrantee's procedures.

b. Local complaint procedures of an AAA or AAA subcontractor or SCSEP subgrantee shall be exhausted before the department on aging is contacted.

(3) Requests for an informal review or a contested case hearing.

a. Informal review. An aggrieved party or a party appealing an AAA-level or SCSEP subgrantee-level decision has 30 calendar days from receipt of written notice of action from the AAA, the SCSEP subgrantee, or the department to request an informal review by the department or a contested case hearing.
(1) Any person who desires to pursue an informal settlement of any complaint may request a meeting with appropriate department staff. The request shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Director, Department on Aging, Jessie M. Parker Building, 510 East 12th Street, Suite 2, Des Moines, Iowa 50319.

(2) The request must contain the subject matter(s) of the complaint and an explanation of all steps taken to resolve the matter prior to requesting an informal review.

(3) Upon receipt of the request for informal review, all formal contested case proceedings, if begun, are stayed.

(4) The department may, as a result of the informal review, negotiate a settlement of the complaint or, if appropriate, may send the matter back to the AAA or SCSEP subgrantee for reconsideration.

(5) Parties desiring informal settlement shall set forth in writing the various points of a proposed settlement, which may include a stipulated statement of facts.

(6) When signed by the parties to a controversy, a proposed settlement shall represent final disposition of the matter in place of contested case proceedings, which shall be terminated.

(7) If the parties are unable to reach agreement during the informal review, the matter may, if requested, be handled by the department as a request for a contested case proceeding under Iowa Code chapter 17A and 17-Chapter 13.

(8) A proposed settlement which is not accepted or signed by the parties shall not be admitted as evidence in the record of a contested case proceeding.

b. Contested case proceeding.
(1) Within 15 calendar days of receipt of a request for a contested case hearing, the department shall initiate a contested case proceeding under 17-Chapter 13.

(2) If the controversy is a matter that is subject to a contested case proceeding under Iowa Code chapter 17A, parties may request a contested case proceeding at the conclusion of an unresolved informal review pursuant to 17-Chapter 13.

(4) Appeal by applicants denied designation as a planning and service area. Any applicant for designation as a planning and service area whose application is denied and who has been provided a hearing by the department on aging and has received a written appeal decision by the commission may appeal the denial to the assistant secretary of the Administration on Aging in writing within 30 calendar days of receipt of the commission's decision.

(5) Judicial review. A party that seeks judicial review shall first exhaust all administrative remedies as follows:

a. A party shall appeal the decision of the administrative law judge as provided in subrule 2.9(4) and receive a decision from the commission as provided in subrule 2.9(4).

b. Petition for judicial review of the commission's decision shall be filed within 30 calendar days after the decision is issued.

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