Under Medicare, when may a patient enter a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for coverage?

• A. After 3+ days in acute care hospital
• B. Immediately upon admission to hospital
• C. After 10 days in SNF
• D. After 30 days in community care

Answer: (A)

Medicare SNF coverage is conditioned on a qualifying hospital stay. To be eligible for coverage of skilled nursing facility care, a patient must have been admitted for at least three consecutive days as an inpatient in a hospital and then transferred to a Medicare‑certified SNF within 30 days of discharge. The days spent must be inpatient days, not observation status, and the patient must need skilled nursing or rehabilitation services as ordered by a physician. Because of this three‑day hospital threshold, entering an SNF immediately, after only a short hospital stay, or after long stays in other settings does not meet the coverage rule. So the earliest time SNF coverage typically applies is after those three inpatient hospital days.