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Under medicare rules,is there a required number of days my mother needs to stay in one nursing home before she moves to another? We had mom all set to go to a 5 star facility from her stay in an acute rehab unit.and now due to an infection in her urine,she needs to be in isolation for a period of time.and the only place that will take her is a 1 star facility.none of us are happy about it.so,can we change her to the place we all wanted once she's clear of the infection? or is there some type of rule under medicare that you have to stay a required number of days before changing nursing homes?



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mom had a stroke,and also broke her foot requiring surgery.she spent 9 days in a hospital.100 days in a nursing home/rehab facility.and then almost 3 weeks now in an acute rehab facility.she is still there, still receiving therapy.and on antibiotics to treat ESBL,a bad infection in her urine.the limit here however,is 3 weeks. now she'll have to private pay a nursing home/rehab facility,while getting her 3 days of rehab there for just a few more months.i did take care of my brother,who did have Medicaid.he has been in a nursing home for 3 years now(brain aneurysm) and I just seem to remember something about a 30 day requirement on nursing homes before you could change to another.maybe that's just Medicaid?its been awhile though.lol.but I can't seem to find out anything online.thank you to those who have answered :)
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We went through a similar situation a few years ago, although the change from one rehab facility to another was because the first was unacceptable. I contacted Medicare as well as the treating orthopedic surgeon, and got a letter from him supporting the need for rehab.

The issue was that Medicare might not have paid for the second facility, given that I had already initially selected one. However, the doctor's letter addressed that issue; in the long run rehab was needed. The first facility wasn't even providing it, contrary to the representations made when I interviewed.

Medicare paid, no questions asked and no issues raised. All went smoothly.

In your situation, I would ask the doctor who recommended her initial rehab stay to write a letter to the effect that the infection has caused the need for isolation, but that she still needs a level of rehab comparable to the facility you first selected.

It wouldn't hurt to call Medicare as well and explain the situation, asking what, if any other documentation, might be required. And take notes, repeating if necessary, to document the exact response.

There might be an initial period of time in which your mother needs to stay at the isolation facility before being transferred to the acute rehab facility. You can ask both Medicare and her doctor if there is such a period, and how long it would be.

If she needs isolation, I'm thinking that this isn't going to be just a few days' stay there.
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Medicare does not cover nursing home stays except for rehab. Maybe you are thinking of Medicaid?
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