What is the "three-day rule" in Medicare?

The "three-day rule" in Medicare refers to the requirement that a patient must be admitted to a hospital for a minimum of three consecutive days before they can qualify for coverage of skilled nursing facility (SNF) care under Medicare. This policy ensures that the patient has had a legitimate and significant medical need that necessitated hospital care, thereby establishing a connection between the hospital stay and the need for subsequent rehabilitation or specialized nursing services.

This rule plays a crucial role in determining coverage because it helps to safeguard against the misuse of nursing facility services, ensuring that only those patients who have received adequate hospital care are provided with the additional services in a skilled nursing facility. By requiring this three-day inpatient hospitalization, Medicare aims to verify the necessity and appropriateness of the transition from a hospital to a SNF, ultimately reinforcing the quality of care offered to patients.