e. Effect on spell of illness

In the infrequent situation where the patient has been discharged from the hospital to their home more than 60 days before they are ready to begin a course of deferred care in an SNF, a new spell of illness begins with the day the beneficiary enters the SNF thereby regenerating another 100 days of extended care benefits. Another qualifying hospital stay would not be required, providing the care furnished is clearly related to the hospital stay in the previous spell of illness and represents care for which the need was predicted at the time of discharge from such hospital stay.