An inpatient rehabilitation facility is a facility licensed under state laws to provide intensive rehabilitative services. An inpatient rehabilitation facility will be able to provide more intensive rehabilitation than a skilled nursing facility or home-based rehabilitation service.
A patient who has a knee replacement may need care in a skilled nursing facility during the rehabilitation process, whereas a patient who has suffered a stroke or a spinal cord injury may need care in an inpatient rehabilitation facility. Medicare will cover inpatient rehabilitation facility care if such care is deemed necessary.