Medicare Tip: Find the Right Post-Hospital Care

For patients and their families, a hospital stay can be a confusing and stressful time. But for hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries who are very sick or have complex needs, the question of where to go after the hospital may be even more difficult.

Patients who need continued care after a hospital stay are destined for "post-acute care"--skilled nursing or therapy services that may be provided by long-term-care hospitals, nursing homes, inpatient rehab facilities or home health agencies.

When it comes to picking the right post-acute care provider, however, patients and their loved ones are often left largely on their own. They may be under intense deadline pressure, as a hospital discharge can come with less than a day's notice. Asking the doctor or hospital staff for guidance may be of little use. Medicare rules prevent hospitals from making specific post-acute care recommendations.