Full Definition

Skilled nursing facilities are licensed by the Texas HHSC and certified by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) to provide nursing home-level care. They serve two distinct populations: patients needing short-term post-acute rehabilitation after a hospital stay (hip fracture, stroke, major surgery), and individuals requiring long-term custodial nursing care who can no longer live independently.

Medicare Part A covers short-term SNF stays following a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 consecutive days — paying 100% for days 1-20 and with a daily copayment (~$194.50 in 2024) for days 21-100. Long-term SNF care beyond Medicare’s coverage window is paid through Medicaid (for qualifying low-income residents), long-term care insurance, or private pay. Average Texas SNF costs range from $5,000 to $9,000/month.