Short-term rehab in Iowa: skilled nursing facilities rated by CMS

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Medicare-certified homes ranked by CMS's short-stay quality rating, which covers residents who stay briefly, usually for rehab after a hospital stay. 249 of the 387 nursing homes in Iowa are Medicare-certified and have a CMS short-stay rating; these are the 50 rated highest. 76 have a 5-star short-stay rating, and the average is 3.4 stars. Ties go to the higher CMS overall rating, then more registered nurse hours per resident per day.

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. CMS ratings don't say which therapy services a home provides, so ask each home about the care you need, and check with Medicare or your plan about coverage.

Skilled nursing facilities in Iowa by CMS short-stay rating

How this list works

What is short-term rehab in a nursing home?

A short stay in a Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility for daily skilled nursing or therapy care, usually after a hospital stay. Original Medicare can cover up to 100 days per benefit period after a medically necessary inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days in a row; see what Medicare pays for in a nursing home.

What does the short-stay quality rating measure?

It is CMS's 1-to-5-star rating for residents who stay briefly, built from short-stay quality measures such as how often residents go back to the hospital and how often they are discharged back to the community. It is separate from the overall rating, which also counts health inspections and staffing. Data from CMS's Nursing Home Care Compare, October 2026.

Does this list show which homes offer physical, occupational or speech therapy?

No. CMS ratings don't say which therapy services a home provides or how often. Ask each home what therapy it offers and how many days a week, and read its skilled nursing staffing and inspection record.

Why isn't every home in Iowa on this list?

Only homes that are Medicare-certified and have a CMS short-stay rating are ranked. CMS gives no short-stay rating when a home has too few short-stay residents or too little data to measure.

Is this a recommendation?

No. It is a ranking of CMS's published ratings. Ratings can change every month, and a home's rating may not reflect a recent change in ownership or staff. Visit, ask questions and read the inspection reports.

More lists for Iowa

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, nursing home provider information, quality ratings and penalties, October 2026. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data.