Religious Nonmedical Health Care Institution (RNHCI) Services

130 – Religious Nonmedical Health Care Institution (RNHCI) Services (Rev. 45, Issued: 02-10-06; Effective: 05-11-06;Implementation: 05-11-06) Section 1821 of the Social Security Act provides for coverage of services furnished in a Medicare qualified religious nonmedical health care institution (RNHCI), when the beneficiary meets specific coverage conditions. The beneficiary must have a valid election for RNHCI services and would otherwise qualify for care in a conventional hospital or post hospital extended care facility that was not a religious nonmedical health care institution. The RNHCI benefit provides only for Part A inpatient services. The Medicare program will only pay for nonmedical health care services furnished in RNHCIs, as defined in Section 1861(ss)(1) of the Act and 42 CFR 403 Subpart G. The program does not pay for supporting religious services or payment for the religious practitioner. The cost of religious items/services and the cost of using a religious practitioner is a personal financial responsibility and not covered by Medicare.