Full Definition

LTACHs fill the gap between the acute care hospital (designed for intense, short-term care) and the skilled nursing facility (designed for ongoing nursing care, not acute medical management). They admit patients who no longer meet the clinical threshold for acute hospital billing but still require daily physician management, complex nursing care, and services that exceed SNF capability.

Common LTACH patients include those being weaned from mechanical ventilators, patients with severe wounds requiring daily wound care, and patients with complex infectious disease requiring extended IV antibiotic therapy.

Medicare pays for LTACH care under the LTACH Prospective Payment System, which provides a fixed per-discharge payment for qualifying admissions. Patients must meet specific clinical and administrative criteria. Texas has LTACHs in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. Following LTACH discharge, patients typically transition to SNF care or home with home health services.