Free Tool · CMS Care Compare Data · Updated Daily
Medicaid Nursing Home Bed Finder
Search nursing homes accepting Medicaid across all 50 states. Filter by memory care, private rooms, veterans services, star ratings, and real-time bed availability. Data from CMS Care Compare — no sign-up required.
Search Medicaid Nursing Homes
Browse by State
Select a state to see all Medicaid-accepting nursing homes, city breakdowns, staffing data, and local cost estimates.
How to Choose a Medicaid Nursing Home
Check CMS star ratings
Focus on the Health Inspection and Staffing sub-scores — the composite rating can mask a poor performer in one area. Aim for 3+ stars on all three components.
Confirm Medicaid participation
Not all beds in a Medicaid-certified facility are Medicaid beds. Confirm the facility has Medicaid-certified beds available and that you qualify for the facility's Medicaid program.
Ask about the waiting list
Many top-rated facilities have 3–6 month waits. Apply to 2–3 facilities simultaneously. If urgent placement is needed, ask the hospital social worker for facilities with current openings.
Visit in person
Tour at different times of day — including evenings and weekends. Observe staff-to-resident ratios, smell, cleanliness, and resident engagement. Talk to residents and their families.
Review the inspection report
CMS publishes the full inspection report for every certified nursing home at Medicare.gov. Look for 'immediate jeopardy' or 'actual harm' citations — these are serious, recent deficiencies.
Understand the admission agreement
Before signing, confirm: what services are included in the Medicaid rate, which services are billed separately, and the facility's policy on Medicaid pending applications.
Need help finding the right nursing home?
Our senior care advisors can match you with Medicaid-accepted facilities in your area — free of charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I find a nursing home that accepts Medicaid?
- Use the search tool above to filter by state, city, or ZIP code and check the 'Accepting Medicaid' filter. All results are verified against CMS Care Compare data. Once Medicaid is approved, contact the facility's admissions office to confirm current availability.
- How many nursing home beds accept Medicaid in the US?
- Approximately 1.2 million of the 1.4 million certified nursing home beds in the United States participate in Medicaid — over 85% of all certified beds. However, availability varies widely by state and region. Rural areas and high-cost states like Alaska and Hawaii have the fewest Medicaid-accepting beds per capita.
- What is a CMS star rating for nursing homes?
- CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) rates nursing homes on a 1–5 star scale based on three components: health inspection results, staffing levels (especially RN hours per resident day), and quality measures. A 5-star facility excels in all three areas. Always review individual component scores — a 4-star overall rating may mask a 2-star health inspection score.
- What does Special Focus Facility (SFP) status mean?
- A Special Focus Facility is a nursing home identified by CMS as having persistent serious quality problems — citations for harm or immediate jeopardy. SFP facilities are monitored with more frequent inspections. We flag these in search results with a red SFP badge. Families should exercise extra caution and consider alternatives when possible.
- How long does it take to get a Medicaid nursing home bed?
- Wait times vary from days to months. Medicaid-certified facilities are required to accept Medicaid patients, but they are not required to admit any specific applicant — beds may be reserved for Medicare patients who generate higher reimbursement. The average wait time is 1–3 months for a preferred facility and as short as a few days in high-availability markets.
- Can a nursing home discharge me if I switch to Medicaid?
- Federal law (OBRA '87) prohibits nursing homes that accept Medicaid from evicting residents solely because their payment source changes from private pay to Medicaid, provided Medicaid eligibility is approved. However, facilities that are NOT Medicaid-certified may discharge residents once private-pay funds are depleted. Always verify Medicaid participation before admission.
- What is the difference between Medicaid and Medicare for nursing home care?
- Medicare covers short-term skilled nursing care (post-hospital rehabilitation) for up to 100 days per benefit period. It pays 100% for days 1–20 and requires a daily copay for days 21–100. After 100 days, Medicare pays nothing. Medicaid covers long-term custodial care indefinitely for eligible residents — it is the primary payer for most long-stay nursing home residents.
- What assets can I keep when applying for Medicaid nursing home benefits?
- In most states, an individual may keep $2,000 in countable assets. A spouse remaining in the community (the 'community spouse') may retain the home, one vehicle, and up to $154,140 (2024) in countable assets. Certain assets are excluded: the primary home (if intent to return or spouse resides there), one car, personal belongings, and prepaid irrevocable burial contracts.
Data: CMS Nursing Home Provider Information (4pq5-n9py), updated daily. Bed availability is estimated from occupancy figures and may not reflect current conditions. Contact facilities directly to confirm availability.