Riverbend

Religious Nonmedical Health Care Institution

Section 1821 of the Social Security Act provides for coverage of services furnished in a Medicare qualified religious nonmedical health care institution (RNHCI) when the beneficiary meets specific coverage conditions. The beneficiary must have a valid election for RNHCI services and would otherwise qualify for care in a conventional hospital or post hospital extended care facility (skilled nursing facility) that was not a religious nonmedical health care institution.

A beneficiary may elect to receive care in an RNHCI based on his or her own religious convictions or to revoke that election at any time if for any reason he or she decides to pursue medical care.

The RNHCI benefit provides only for Part A inpatient services. The Medicare program will only pay for nonmedical health care services furnished in RNHCIs.