What Is SNF or Skilled Nursing Facility?

What Requirements Do Skilled Nursing Facilities Need to Maintain?

Skilled nursing facilities must stick to federal regulations. Before nursing care starts, assessing your loved one’s needs and developing a care plan is done. This process is also the backbone of record-keeping for each patient. 

Regulations also demand that each medical center have enough staff to fulfill all the older adult’s needs. On top of that, the post-acute centers must ensure that: 

• Each patient is hydrated 
• Nutrition is suited for your loved one
• Medical equipment is functioning and available at all times
• Adequate supervision of patients take place

Medicare covers admission under the following terms:

• You have Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) with days left on your benefit period. The benefit period starts the day you’re admitted to a hospital or a Skilled Nursing facility. It ends 60 days after you’re discharged.
• You have to qualify by having a 3-night stay at a hospital. 
• Your doctor must believe that you need skilled nursing care daily. 
• Skilled nurses and therapists must provide the care. The care must relate to the condition treated during your hospital stay. 
• The medical center is certified by Medicare. It needs to meet and maintain the criteria according to the Medicare certification. 

What skilled nursing services does Medicare cover?

You’re not crazy if you expect Medicare will cover skilled nursing care costs. However, coverage limits can be perplexing, and you must complete specific standards prior to your stay.
In a nutshell, Medicare will cover short-term stays in skilled nursing facilities in certain circumstances. If you require continuous or long-term care in a skilled nursing facility, you will be required to pay for these services out of pocket or via other programs.

The coverage provided by Medicare for skilled nursing facilities is divided into benefit areas. A benefit phase begins when you are admitted to a hospital or skilled care facility as a patient.

Various amounts are provided over the course of the benefit period. When 60 days have passed without the need for hospital or skilled nursing care, the benefit period expires. If you return to the hospital after the 60-day period has expired, a new benefit period will begin.

Below is a complete list of items that Medicare covers for skilled nursing services:

• A semi-private room shared with other
• Meals and nutritional counseling
• Skilled nursing care
• Rehabilitation services – physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, respiratory therapy
• Medication & medical supplies
• Medical social services
• Swing bed services
• Ambulance transportation

Cost of Skilled Nursing Facility

A skilled nursing facility always includes a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) on-site 24/7. There are other amenities like assistants, registered nurses, and patient beds. All these together increase the skilled nursing facility costs.

On average, SNF can cost $275 per day. In a nursing facility, seniors can find semi-private and private rooms. Private rooms are costlier with $290 per day expenses. On the other hand, semi-private rooms can cost $255 per day on average.

If you want monthly estimations, you will need to understand that that might be your most common plan. Most seniors need to stay long-term in a skilled nursing facility. The monthly cost for skilled nursing care is around $7650 on average. 

Finally, the average yearly cost can reach as much as $125,000 by 2030. Currently, the costs are $105, 850 yearly for the private rooms and $93,075 each year for the semi-private rooms.