SNF Verification of Prior Hospital Stay and Transfer

10.12 - SNF Verification of Prior Hospital Stay and Transfer Requirements (Rev. 1, 10-01-03) SNF-414 SNFs must verify that the beneficiary was discharged from a hospital with a transfer agreement with the SNF and that: a. The date of discharge is on or after the first day of the month in which the beneficiary became entitled to Medicare; b. The hospital stay was at least three calendar days in duration (hospital days to which waiver of liability was applied cannot be used to satisfy the 3-day requirement); and c. The 3-day qualifying stay was within 30 days of the SNF admission, unless the rules for exception apply. The hospital usually sends the SNF a patient transfer form or other record in accordance with the transfer agreement. The dates of the hospital stay are required on the claim. For more information on the above criteria, see Chapter 8 of the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual.