COVID-19 UPDATE: *At this time, Medicare has suspended the three-day qualifying hospital stay requirement if you experience dislocations or are otherwise affected by the coronavirus public health emergency. This means, for example:
• If you need to be transferred to a skilled nursing facility due to nursing home evacuations, Medicare has suspended the three-day qualifying hospital stay.
• Or, if you need skilled nursing facility care as a result of the current public health emergency, regardless of whether they were previously in the hospital, Medicare has suspended the three-day qualifying hospital stay.

Medicare has also changed other SNF coverage requirements. Typically, Part A covers up to 100 days of SNF care each benefit period. If you cannot end a benefit period and start a new one because of the public health emergency, you can get another 100 days of covered SNF care without beginning a new benefit period.

Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for information on Medicare’s SNF coverage, including during the coronavirus public health emergency, and for help appealing a SNF discharge.

Image may contain: text that says 'ship assistance programs state health insurance WHAT SKILLED NURSING FACILITY SERVICES DOES MEDICARE COVER? During Medicare-covered SNF stay, Medicare Part covers: SEMI-PRIVATE ROOM AND MEALS SKILLED NURSING CARE PROVIDED BY NURSING STAFE THERAPY, INCLUDING PHYSICAL THERAPY, SPEECH THERAPY, AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MEDICAL SOCIAL SERVICES AND DIETARY COUNSELING MEDICATIONS MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES AMBULANCE TRANSPORTATION TO THE NEAREST PROVIDER OF NEEDED SERVICES, WHEN OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION WOULD ENDANGER YOUR HEALTH infographic Administration supported, part, by_grant numbers Community Living, epartment Health anc 90MPRC0002 Human Services, Washington'