Religious Nonmedical Health Care Institution (RNHCIs) | Medicare Glossary

Medicare Glossary Topic.

A facility that provides nonmedical care items and services to individuals that need hospital or skilled nursing facility care, but whose religious beliefs prohibit conventional and unconventional medical care. Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) covers inpatient non-religious, nonmedical care when the following conditions are met:

  • The RNHCI is certified to participate in Medicare

  • The RNHCI Utilization Review Committee agrees that the individual would require hospital or SNF care if they weren’t in the RNHCI

  • The individual has a written election with Medicare showing that their need for RNHCI care is based on both eligibility and religious beliefs.