Ask the case manager for the discharge plan in writing, confirm whether your parent was admitted as an inpatient or held under observation status (only inpatient stays count toward Medicare's skilled-nursing benefit), and ask which facilities have actually accepted the referral -- not just which ones were contacted.
Inside the discharge window
Case managers typically send inquiries to many facilities and hear back from only a few, so the true list of options is shorter than it first appears -- ask specifically which ones have said yes, not which ones were contacted. The discharge date itself is usually less fixed than hospital staff make it sound, particularly if no safe plan exists yet; it is fair to push back and ask what happens if placement isn't confirmed in time. Even inside a 72-hour window, take a few minutes to check any candidate facility's license status on Indiana's public inspection search before signing anything.
