A patient requires inpatient hospitalization in an acute care hospital for at least two midnights in order to qualify for Medicare coverage for admission to a skilled-nursing facility.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

One of the most problematic transition situations for frail older adults is an inpatient stay in "observation status." If the patient stay does not meet the "two midnight rule", the patient is not really considered to be an inpatient under this status, Medicare parameters for a 3 day inpatient stay before payment for a SNF admission are not met and cause patients to be transitioned home instead of to a skilled-nursing facility.

A Patient Requires Inpatient Hospitalization in an Acute Care Hospital