A Democratic congressman from Iowa is calling for a state audit of the Iowa Veterans’ Home following personnel changes in July.

Democratic Rep. Sue Cahill of Marshalltown sent a letter to Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand this week demanding an audit of the state veterans home in Marshalltown.

The request followed news in July that the Iowa Veterans’ Home would undergo a “restructuring process” that would eliminate 11 full-time positions and reduce four additional full-time positions to part-time starting Aug. 15. Karl Lettow, communications specialist for the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, said in a statement to the Marshalltown Times-Republican that the staffing changes were made to meet the “demanding needs of our residents” amid financial constraints.

“The cost of care is rising while government reimbursements are not keeping pace,” said Lettow. This realignment will result in more efficient and responsive support and care for our residents by engaging more staff in direct care. This is a strategic decision that positions us to provide the best possible support to our residents now and in the future.”

In the letter to Sand – the only Democrat currently holding statewide elected office in Iowa – Cahill said the decision to cut jobs at the nursing facility was made without input from lawmakers and came despite a $1 million increase in state funding for the home.

Cahill, who represents residents of the Iowa Veterans’ Home, asked the auditor general’s office to examine whether the facility is using the state funds provided legally and in accordance with state regulations and contractual agreements. She wrote that the audit was requested “out of concern for Iowa taxpayers and the veterans who have served our country.”

“Veterans have sacrificed so much for our country and we must ensure they receive the highest level of care and respect in their later years,” Cahill said in a statement. “I am calling on the State Auditor to ensure the Iowa Veterans’ Home meets the highest standards of care and transparency.”

The staff cuts primarily affect positions in the area of ​​recreational activities for residents, Cahill wrote – a cut that runs counter to the Veterans’ Home’s mission to provide veterans and their spouses with continuity of care with services focused on a high quality of life.

In a statement sent to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Lettow said there had been “disinformation” about the personnel changes at the Iowa Veterans’ Home.

“Our new structure is designed to improve service to our residents,” said Lettow. “Unfortunately, there has been misinformation throughout the transition, and the key points of the press release also appear to be false and factually incorrect. The claims in the press release that 11 employees were laid off and that the realignment would negatively impact our quality of care are objectively and demonstrably false.”

At the same time as the eliminations and changes to the existing full-time positions, new positions were created, Lettow said, a detail that was “consistently and selectively omitted by multiple sources.” He also said that the majority of employees whose positions were affected by the July changes are still working in the newly created positions at the facility and that three have been promoted.

Three other employees “will be looking for other opportunities,” he said, but added that several openings are available at the veterans home.

“Our staff makes the Iowa Veterans Home the best place in Iowa for our veterans and their spouses,” said Lettow. “Thanks to them, we have been able to achieve and maintain a 5-star rating from the CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid) since 2016, meaning the IVH has been in the top 10 percent of long-term care facilities in the U.S. for eight years in a row. Any change we even consider must improve our home for our residents and staff.”

Lettow also said the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs recently received the results of its annual state audit for fiscal year 2023 with no discrepancies and is already in the audit process for next year.

Sand released a statement on Tuesday acknowledging receipt of Cahill’s request.

“The Auditor’s Office will review Rep. Cahill’s request and make a decision on how we can move forward to ensure Iowa’s veterans receive the best possible care and taxpayer dollars are spent as intended and in accordance with the law,” Sand said in a statement.