Distinct Part of an Institution as a SNF

30.1 - Distinct Part of an Institution as a SNF (Rev. 1, 09-11-02) The term "distinct part" refers to a portion of an institution or institutional complex (e.g., a nursing home or a hospital) that is certified to provide SNF and/or Nursing Facility (NF) services. To qualify for participation in the program as a distinct part SNF of an institution, it must be physically separate from the rest of the institution, i.e., it must represent an entire physically identifiable unit consisting of all the beds within that unit, such as a separate building, floor, wing, or ward. A distinct part must be fiscally separate for cost reporting purposes. Although it is required that the distinct part be identifiable as a separate unit within the institution, it need not necessarily be confined to a single location within the institution's physical plant. The distinct part may, for example, consist of several floors or wards which are scattered throughout several different buildings within the institutional complex. In each case, however, the patients of the distinct part must be located in units which are physically separate from those units housing all other patients of the institution. Various beds scattered throughout the institution do not comprise a distinct part for purposes of being approved by Medicare as a SNF. An institution or institutional complex can only be certified with one distinct part SNF and/or one distinct part NF. A hospital-based SNF is by definition a distinct part. Multiple certifications within the same institution or institutional complex are strictly prohibited. The distinct part must consist of all beds within the designated area. Where an institution or institutional complex owns and operates a SNF and/or a NF distinct part, that SNF and/or NF distinct part is a single distinct part even if it is operated at various locations throughout the institution or institutional complex. The aggregate of the SNF and/or NF locations represents a single distinct part subprovider, not multiple subproviders, and must be assigned a single provider number.