A. General

Other services which are necessary to the health of the patients are covered if the services are generally provided by Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs).

Items or services that would not be included as inpatient hospital services if furnished to an inpatient of a hospital are also excluded from coverage as extended care services.

The use of an operating room and any special equipment, supplies, or services would not constitute covered extended care services except when furnished to the facility by a hospital with which the facility has a transfer agreement, since operating rooms are not generally maintained by SNF's. However, supplies and nursing services connected with minor surgery performed in an SNF that does not require the use of an operating room or any special equipment or supplies associated with such a room would be covered extended care services and reimbursed as part of the cost of routine services.