Committee backs ‘granny cam’ bill, citing issues with nursing home in…

A bill that would prevent Iowa nursing homes from prohibiting the use of family-installed cameras inside residents’ rooms was approved by a House committee on Tuesday.

House File 537 would ensure that Iowa nursing homes allow the use of so-called “granny cams” that provide families with a live video feed of activity inside a resident’s room. For residents who reside in a shared room, the roommate would have to agree to the use of the camera, and a notice posted to the door would alert visitors and staff to the presence of any cameras.

Variations of the bill have surfaced several times in recent years but have been opposed by industry lobbyists. Over the past two years, however, there have been a number of deaths tied to regulatory violations in Iowa nursing homes and the state has faced criticism for the manner in which it handles complaints and inspections.

Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, a Democrat from Waterloo, told colleagues on the House…