Long Term Care: Skilled Nursing Facilities

Skilled Nursing Facilities provide the highest level of care to an individual outside a hospital setting, known as sub-acute care.  The primary focus initially in a Skilled Nursing facility is rehabilitation care through skilled therapies.  Theses therapies include nursing (medication/wound care etc.), physical, occupational, and speech therapy.  Rehabilitative care is covered by Medicare if the individual had a three-day qualifying hospital stay prior to needing to be moved to a skilled nursing facility.  The belief at the time of admission is that the individual will be able and willing to work towards goals, if at any time this is not the case the status of the individual can be moved from Rehabilitative to Long-Term Care.  This means that Medicare stops paying for the services and an alternative option is required for payment.  In most cases, Medicaid is the primary funding source.  Often individuals will pay privately to spend down their assets on their care needs while pending approval by Medicaid.   In the case of a 75-100% service-connected veteran, the VA would cover the costs for a qualified placement.  There are not alternative payment options through grants or programs to cover the costs of Skilled Nursing facility care. Medicare will cover skilled nursing rehabilitative care up to a maximum of 100 days. 

The State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Senior and Disabilities Services does offer a program to assist with the cost associated for moving out of a Skilled Nursing, Long-Term Care, or Assisted Living Facility.

Nursing Facility Transition/Assisted Living Transition Program