What Does Medicare Cover for Skilled Nursing Facilities?
Important note: Medicare only pays for Skilled Nursing Care. Intermediate or Custodial care is not covered under any circumstances. Once the patient no longer qualifies for skilled care, Medicare stops paying even if the patient is still in a facility. Sometimes definitions are helpful. In this case, it is important to understand the definitions of the three basic levels of care: • Skilled Nursing Care – Medically necessary acute care rendered by skilled personnel (e.g., RN, LPN, Speech, Occupational, or Physical Therapist, etc.) ordered and supervised by a physician. Generally, once a patient is adequately stabilized and their condition is no longer improving, they are deemed to not require skilled care. • Intermediate Nursing Care – Medically necessary care required for stabilized conditions supervised by, but not required to be rendered by, skilled personnel. • Custodial Care – Primarily personal care to assist with activities of daily living; hands-on, stand-by, supervisory. Not ne
