All states › Iowa › Cedar Falls › Pinnacle Specialty Care
1223 Prairieview Road Cedar Falls, IA 50613 · Black Hawk County
All 5 nursing homes in Cedar Falls, IA (5 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165298 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Pinnacle 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 Pinnacle 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 3.66 hours per resident per day at Pinnacle Specialty Care, about the same as the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.63 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.24 hours, 12% below its all-week average. 30.3% 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.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Pinnacle Specialty Care: Medicare and Medicaid
Pinnacle 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 July 24, 2025 and found 4 deficiencies, plus 11 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 25 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 25 citations at Pinnacle Specialty Care across 8 inspection dates, 15 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on November 13, 2023. The most common areas cited were resident assessment and care planning (8) and quality of life and care (6). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals" (tag F0684, level G, November 13, 2023). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
June 9, 2026 · 5 citations · includes complaint inspection
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DHave a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
April 2, 2026 · 4 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
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 safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
November 19, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
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.
July 24, 2025 · 4 citations
DHonor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
September 5, 2024 · 4 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProvide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
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.
DEnsure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
February 13, 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.
DMake sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.
November 13, 2023 · 1 citation, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
June 8, 2023 · 3 citations
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 appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Questions to ask on a tour of Pinnacle Specialty Care
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on November 13, 2023 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on June 9, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 2 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
- 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
1 penalty in the last three years, including $8,362 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 13, 2023 | Fine | $8,362 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Pinnacle 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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3.2 mi
Sartori Memorial Hospital Cedar FallsEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 36m for patients treated and sent home
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4.9 mi
Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center WaterlooEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 3h 43m for patients treated and sent home
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5.4 mi
Allen Memorial Hospital WaterlooEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 2h 43m 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
More nursing homes near Pinnacle Specialty Care › All nursing homes in Cedar Falls ›
Compare Pinnacle Specialty Care with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- The Suites at Western Home Communities · Cedar Falls · 5 stars · 0.3 mi
- Martin Health Center · Cedar Falls · 5 stars · 2.7 mi
- Friendship Village Retirement · Waterloo · 3 stars · 4.6 mi
Other Care Initiatives nursing homes in Iowa
- Sibley Specialty Care · Sibley · 5 stars
- Lamoni Specialty Care · Lamoni · 5 stars
- Fonda Specialty Care · Fonda · 5 stars
- Wapello Specialty Care · Wapello · 5 stars
- Mechanicsville Specialty Care · Mechanicsville · 5 stars
- Laporte City Specialty Care · La Porte City · 5 stars
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.