All states › Iowa › Atlantic › Atlantic Specialty Care
1300 East 19th Street Atlantic, IA 50022 · Cass County
All 2 nursing homes in Atlantic, IA (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165288 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Atlantic Specialty Care a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Atlantic Specialty Care as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below the Iowa average of 3.1.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 3.39 hours per resident per day at Atlantic Specialty Care, below the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.52 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.91 hours, 14% below its all-week average. 30.8% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%). That is lower than most homes in Iowa, a sign of a steadier team. 2 administrators left in the past year.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Atlantic Specialty Care: Medicare and Medicaid
Atlantic Specialty Care is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Iowa's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on April 9, 2026 and found 6 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 42 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 42 citations at Atlantic Specialty Care across 7 inspection dates, 16 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 42 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (15) and resident assessment and care planning (8). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data" (tag F0851, level F, June 6, 2024).
April 9, 2026 · 6 citations
DProvide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
March 27, 2025 · 8 citations
EEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DEnsure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
October 24, 2024 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
August 13, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
June 6, 2024 · 15 citations · includes complaint inspection
FElectronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
EProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
EEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.
DProvide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
March 7, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
December 12, 2023 · 6 citations · includes complaint inspection
EHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
EProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Questions to ask on a tour of Atlantic Specialty Care
- Several administrators left in the past year. What has changed for residents since then?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Atlantic Specialty Care
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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0.7 mi
Cass County Memorial Hospital AtlanticEmergency room ★★★★★ Medicare overall 5 of 5Median ER visit 1h 26m for patients treated and sent home
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22.6 mi
Audubon County Memorial Hospital AudubonEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 24m for patients treated and sent home
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24.6 mi
Myrtue Medical Center HarlanEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 1h 1m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
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Compare Atlantic Specialty Care with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Heritage House · Atlantic · 4 stars · 0.5 mi
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Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 43 Care Initiatives nursing homes ›
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.