Join IHCA ICAL
The Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) and the Iowa Center for Assisted Living (ICAL) serve the long term care profession as nonprofit trade associations. Our 600+ members span the continuum of long term care, providing services to Iowa’s frail and elderly served through nursing facilities, assisted living and residential care facilities, home health agencies, hospice, and independent senior housing communities. We are dedicated to enhancing the long term care continuum in Iowa by providing leadership, advocacy, information, and education to a broad range of providers, consumers, government agencies, and others comprising the long term care community.
With 
the guidance of AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiatives, we continuously strive for quality improvement in Iowa’s long term care community.
Our members
IHCA ICAL’s membership includes single facility, multi-facility, for-profit and nonprofit organizations statewide. We represent 75% of nonprofit and 92% of for-profit long term care provider organizations in Iowa. Our membership includes 85% of the long term care service providers in both urban and rural Iowa. The strength of our membership has established our place as one of the state’s leading trade associations.
IHCA ICAL members provide services to more than 42,000 Iowans and employ more than 30,000 administrators, nurses, certified nursing assistants and other long term care professionals across the state. Our members serve 95% of the residents participating in the state’s Medicaid and Medicare long term care programs.
Member Benefits
The benefits of IHCA ICAL membership include:
Representation. Our professional staff and lobbyists ensure that our members’ long term care interests are well represented to Iowa’s legislators at both the state and federal level, as well as, to government agencies involved in long term care regulation in the post-acute care continuum.
Networking. Our members are provided numerous opportunities to share ideas and concerns with their peers at state and district levels. Specialties, such as nurses, direct caregivers, and activity providers, have organizations within our association that actively work to promote the expertise and services they provide through sharing activities, education and enrichment opportunities.
Education. Our members receive discounts for all IHCA ICAL-sponsored workshops, conventions, and courses, and from the AHCA/NCAL online bookstore. Members also have access to our Resource Library that includes over 100 books, audio and VCR/DVD materials for staff education, employee development and in-service programs.
Information. Our members keep up to date on the latest in long term care news through our member website, weekly newsletter, direct mailings and e-mail notices.
Group purchasing. Through Extended Care Services of Iowa, Inc. (ECSI), our members have the advantage of group purchasing rates on products used everyday in long term care: food, linens, sanitary supplies, cleaning supplies, insurance, utilities and more.
AHCA and NCAL membership. IHCA ICAL members are also members of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living located in Washington D.C. AHCA/NCAL is the largest long term
care association in the nation. AHCA/NCAL represents the 
interests of long term care providers at the federal level and is considered one of the strongest and most respected lobbying organizations in Washington, D.C.
IHCA ICAL Applications
IHCA ICAL has three membership options: facility/agency member, associate member and student member. For an application, click on the membership option below that applies to you. Our Director of Membership, Marcia Hewitt, can assist you with any questions at marcia@iowahealthcare.org or 800.422.3106.
Facility member. Any certified nursing home, assisted living program, home health agency, senior housing provider, or residential care facility provider. Contact Marcia Hewitt at 800.422.3106 about new member discounts that may apply.
Associate member. Any hospice, business, firm, organization, corporation, or other group that provides services to the long term care profession. Associate membership is also ideal for an individual or organization with an interest in long term care services—including long term care facilities or programs in development. Associate members cannot be employed by a non-member facility.
Student member. A student with an interest in long term care who is currently enrolled in an institution of higher learning. This includes, but is not limited to, students working on a long term care practicum or nursing degree with an emphasis in geriatrics.