CMS on May 11 added a waiver[1] for swing beds in general acute care hospitals. Critical access hospitals and small rural hospitals are already able to capitalize on swing beds, which are acute care beds that are reimbursed when they’re used for patients who require skilled nursing facility (SNF) care.
Expanded Ability for Hospitals to Offer Long-term Care Services (“Swing-Beds”) for Patients Who do not Require Acute Care but do Meet the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Level of Care Criteria as Set Forth at 42 C.F.R. § 409.31 . (New since 4/30 Release). Under section 1135(b)(1) of the Act, CMS is waiving the requirements at 42 C.F.R. § 482.58 , “Special Requirements for hospital providers of long-term care services (“swing-beds”)” subsections (a)(1)-(4) “Eligibility”, to allow hospitals to establish SNF swing beds payable under the SNF prospective payment system (PPS) to provide additional options for hospitals with patients who no longer require acute care but are unable to find placement in a SNF.