Yes. If you leave a skilled nursing facility (SNF) and return to that SNF or another one within 30 days, you do not need another three-day qualifying hospital stay. If you want to return after 30 days, Medicare will not pay unless you are in the hospital for another three consecutive days in the 30 days before you enter the SNF.

Medicare will only cover your care in a SNF while you are there. If you need to leave the SNF to go into the hospital (or for any other reason), Medicare will not pay for a bed-hold. If you qualify for Medicare-covered skilled nursing facility benefits after you leave the hospital, you may not be able to return to the same SNF.

If the SNF does save a bed for you, it can charge you for the bed-hold, and you will have to pay that charge yourself. In some states, if you have Medicaid, Medicaid may pay for the bed-hold. Call your State Department of Health to find out.