Transitional Care/Swing Bed
Bridging acute care and home, the Transitional Care Program at Reeves Regional Health is your convenient choice for seamless healthcare.
For patients who are not ready to go home following a hospital stay, the Transitional Care Program offers compassionate extended care in a hospital environment, so patients can make a smoother transition back to their lives.
Traditionally called a swing bed program, Transitional Care makes billing easier in the way Medicare reimburses for the care provided to the patient. With this program, a hospital can “swing” a patient’s level of care from acute to skilled rehabilitation. If acute care is needed again, the patient can be “swung” back, meaning there is no need to change facilities.
This program is also an option for patients who would otherwise be discharged to a nursing home when they only need care for a few more days or weeks. The patient stays in the same bed and receives the same care, but the services are billed differently.
How do I qualify under Medicare?
A patient must need some form of skilled nursing or skilled rehabilitation service that can only be provided in a skilled nursing facility. Examples of skilled care include:
- IV therapy
- Sterile dressing changes
- Skin/wound care
- Palliative care/end of life care
- Rehabilitation services
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and respiratory therapy
How can I receive Transitional Care?
Once your physician determines that skilled care is needed, a referral will be made to the Transitional Care coordinator at Reeves Regional Health. Arrangements with your physician will then be made for admission into program.
How do I pay for Transitional Care?
Medicare will cover the cost of skilled care if:
- You have Medicare Part A and have days left in your benefit period available to use.
- You have a qualifying hospital stay (three-day, consecutive, acute care stay).
- Your doctor has determined that you need daily skilled care. You will be cared for by skilled licensed nursing staff and/or rehabilitation staff.
Medicare coverage is limited to 100 days of skilled Transitional Care per illness. Medicare will cover up to 20 days at 100% providing the patient has a skilled need. You may be discharged before 20 days if skilled criteria ends.
Questions or Comments?
If you have any questions or comments about transitional care, please call 432-447-3551.