Buchanan County Health Center
Independence, IA · Medicaid-certified nursing home (CCN 16E050) · 39 certified beds
Health inspection: 4 · Quality measures: 4 · Staffing: 5
Federal fines: 1 totaling $4,011
Phone: (319) 334-6071 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
Buchanan County Health Center has a CMS overall rating of 5 stars, above the Iowa state average of 3.07 stars, with a health inspection rating of 4 stars and a staffing rating of 5 stars.
Buchanan County Health Center reports total nurse staffing of about 4.19 hours per resident per day, including roughly 1.22 RN hours per resident per day, a 5-star CMS staffing rating, and nursing staff turnover of 26.3%.
Buchanan County Health Center has 1 federal fine on record totaling $4,011.00 and 0 payment denials; CMS does not display an abuse icon for this facility and it is not in CMS's Special Focus Facility program.
About this facility
Buchanan County Health Center is a government (county)-owned nursing home in Independence, Iowa, certified since October 1974 and participating in Medicaid. The facility is licensed for 39 beds and serves an average of 34.5 residents.
According to CMS Care Compare, Buchanan County Health Center holds an overall rating of 5 stars, above the Iowa state average of 3.07 stars. Its component ratings are: Health Inspection 4 stars, Quality Measures 4 stars, and Staffing 5 stars.
Nurse staffing data show total nurse staffing of approximately 4.19 hours per resident per day, including about 1.22 RN hours per resident per day. Nursing staff turnover is reported at 26.3%.
On penalties, CMS records show 1 federal fine totaling $4,011.00, and 0 payment denials for this facility.
CMS does not display an abuse icon for this facility, and it is not currently listed under CMS's Special Focus Facility program, which designates homes CMS identifies as having a history of persistent quality problems and subjects them to increased inspection frequency.
No chain affiliation is listed in the available data, and there has been no ownership change in the past 12 months, so the ratings reflect the current operator.
This profile is based on CMS Care Compare data as reported for this facility; families should verify current details directly on Care Compare before making decisions.
Questions families ask
What is this nursing home's CMS overall star rating and how does it compare to the state average?
Buchanan County Health Center has an overall CMS rating of 5 stars, above the Iowa state average of 3.07 stars.
Does this facility accept Medicare, Medicaid, or both?
CMS lists this facility's provider type as Medicaid.
How well is this facility staffed — nurse hours per resident and turnover?
Total nurse staffing is about 4.19 hours per resident per day, including about 1.22 RN hours, with a staffing rating of 5 stars and nursing turnover of 26.3%.
Does this facility have federal fines or penalties on record?
Yes, CMS records show 1 fine totaling $4,011.00 and 0 payment denials.
Has CMS flagged this facility for abuse or placed it in the Special Focus program?
No, CMS does not display an abuse icon for this facility, and it is not listed in the Special Focus Facility program.
How large is this facility and how many residents live there?
The facility is certified for 39 beds with an average of 34.5 residents.
Who owns this facility — and is it part of a chain?
It is owned by a county government entity (Government - County); no chain affiliation is listed in the data.
How long has this facility been Medicare/Medicaid certified?
It has been certified since October 1, 1974.
What do the four different CMS star ratings mean?
CMS rates facilities on overall quality, health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, each on a 1-5 star scale, with the overall rating combining the other three.
Does this facility offer short-term rehabilitation as well as long-term care?
The provided data does not specify service lines; contact the facility at 3193346071 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
What should I look for when touring this facility?
The data does not include tour guidance; contact the facility at 3193346071 to arrange a visit.
How do I verify this facility's current record on Medicare Care Compare?
You can review the latest details at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/nursing-home/16E050?state=IA.
Data: CMS Care Compare (Aug2026 refresh). Star ratings, staffing hours, and penalty records are CMS's official published measures. Always tour the facility, review the current inspection record, and verify details with Medicare before making care decisions.