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Answering Your Medicare Questions What About Skilled Nursing? provides post-acute skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services. People sometimes confuse skilled nursing care with nursing home care because it usually takes place in a nursing home location. But Medicare doesn’t pay for nursing home care. In other words, if someone is frail and cannot perform certain tasks of daily living, such as bathing, eating, and dressing, then Medicare will not pay for those services to be provided exclusively. What Medicare does pay for, though, is skilled nursing, which occurs after surgery or acute illness. For example, you would qualify for this service if you’ve had hip surgery for a fractured hip or suffered a stroke. After being in the hospital, patients are admitted to a skilled nursing facility for a short period of time to aid in their healing and rehabilitation. Hospitals are incredibly expensive, and oftentimes, a skilled nursing facility can provide necessary treatment at a much lower cost. Such facilities provide services like physical therapy for a hip injury or occupational therapy after a stroke. The tricky part about skilled nursing facilities is admittance. It’s important to note that the following essential criteria need to be met for you to be admitted to a skilled nursing facility that Medicare will pay for. • The patient must be admitted to a hospital as an “inpatient” for at least three consecutive days, not including the day of dismissal. The patient can’t be in the hospital for “observation” for it to count. • The patient must be admitted to the skilled nursing facility within 30 days of discharge from the hospital. • Only a skilled nursing facility can provide the type of care necessary for the patient’s recovery. • A doctor, or another appropriate medical provider, must certify that skilled nursing care is required for recovery. • The patient must be treated for the same condition for which they were in the hospital for in order for Medicare to pay for treatment. One of the questions I get on a regular basis is about skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). A skilled nursing facility is an institution that
Pesto Chicken With Blistered Tomatoes “Chris has been our insurance agent for five years. He made the whole Medicare process easy to understand and paid attention to every detail to tailor a program that would be a best fit for us. If we have a question or issue, Chris responds back immediately! He’s been an absolute pleasure to work with! We highly recommend Chris for all your Medicare and insurance needs.” - Cheryl B. a nd Ma ry N.
Brighten up after a cold, dark winter with this fresh and flavorful springtime dish
Ingredients
• 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil, divided • 4 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, pounded to a 1-inch thickness • Salt and pepper to taste • 1/4 cup whole-wheat panko • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted • 6 tbsp spinach pesto • 2 cups cherry tomatoes • 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced • 1 tsp red wine vinegar
Directions
1. In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. 2. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and add it to pan. Cook chicken for 5 minutes on each side, then remove pan from heat. 3. In a bowl, combine panko, Parmesan cheese, and butter. 4. Spread pesto over chicken and top with panko mixture. 5. Broil chicken for 2 minutes on high heat until browned. 6. In a skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. 7. Add tomatoes and cook for 6 minutes. 8. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. 9. Season tomato mixture with salt and pepper, and add red wine vinegar. 10. Serve tomatoes with broiled chicken.
It is important to arm yourself with the facts when planning. Assumptions that “Medicare will take care of it” could result in some painful surprises.
Inspired by CookingLight.com
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