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A skilled nursing facility, or "SNF," is a nursing home which provides skilled nursing and/or skilled rehabilitation services to patients who need skilled medical care that cannot be provided in a custodial level nursing home or in the patient's home.

Under Medicare SNF benefits, you are entitled to:

Skilled care provided on a daily basis by, or under the supervision of, a registered professional nurse.

Rehabilitation therapies, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, when provided at least five days per week.

Bed and board in connection with skilled nursing services.

Prescribed drugs, laboratory work, supplies, appliances, and eqipment.

In order:

1. Admission to the SNF must be for a condition that was treated in the hospital and you must have stayed in the hospital for at least three consecutive days.
2. The hospitalization must usually have occurred within 30 days of your admission to the SNF.
3. The SNF must be a Medicare "approved" facility.
4. Your doctor must order skilled nursing services on a daily basis, or skilled rehabilitative services five days a week.