What condition must NOT be met to qualify for skilled nursing care benefits under Medicare Part A?

To qualify for skilled nursing care benefits under Medicare Part A, it is essential to understand the nature of the care being provided. Skilled nursing care is intended for those individuals who require short-term rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay. One critical element of this care is that it must focus on medical or rehabilitative treatment, rather than custodial care.

Option A indicates that care should be limited to 20 days of custodial care, which does not align with the requirements for skilled nursing benefits. Medicare does not cover custodial care, which is primarily assistance with daily living activities, such as bathing and dressing. Instead, Medicare Part A covers skilled nursing care, which involves services performed by licensed professionals such as nurses and therapists aiming to treat a medical condition.

The other options highlight necessary conditions: there needs to be a qualifying hospital stay before admission to a skilled nursing facility (Option C), the facility must be approved by Medicare (Option D), and the patient must be expected to show improvement in the condition being treated (Option B). These reflect the focus of Medicare on rehabilitation and skilled care rather than custodial assistance, reinforcing that custodial care is outside the scope of what Medicare Part A is designed to cover.