Commonly pronounced “sniff.” 1. Setting, either part of a facility or distinct from it, that provides inpatient 24-hour nursing and related health services for patients who need continuous medical care or rehabilitation services. Patients in need of SNF care may have a condition that is acute, chronic, or terminal and it makes no difference. It is considered to be more cost-effective than an extended hospital stay. Formerly called extended care facility (ECF) before 1972 when the Social Security statute was amended and SNF was introduced. 2. Under the Medicaid program, this is known as a nursing facility (NF) . Medicaid also has a separate category of intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded. 3. Under the Medicare program, a SNF is staffed and equipped to give intensive nursing and rehabilitative care by registered and licensed nurses or licensed therapists under the supervision of a physician. SNFs must be certified by Medicare and there are specific requirements for admission, certain covered benefits, and a period of coverage. Inpatient SNF, known as extended care services , is given to a patient in a SNF up to 100 days of each spell of illness, depending on the patient’s condition.