Given the number of options available for at-home care and financial assistance from state Medicaid (called MassHealth or CommonHealth in Massachusetts) programs, we are now seeing a growing trend of nursing home residents regaining their independence and transitioning back into the community. This is a very attractive possibility for those individuals needing an increased level of care at some point in their life, but do not wish to permanently reside in a nursing home setting. Both
Maintaining Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Coverage
Following a hospital inpatient stay of at least three days, Medicare will pay for care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for up to 100 days for each period of coverage. This is often called “rehabilitation” coverage and can be provided in a dedicated rehabilitation facility, certain parts of some hospitals, or in some facilities that also provide nursing home care. The purpose of this type of care is to transition the patient back to as much an independent level of self-care…