Healthcare Insights
How many skilled nursing facilities are in the U.S.?
A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a type of inpatient facility that performs both long- and short-term rehabilitation for patients of all ages and backgrounds. These facilities provide 24-hour medical support to patients requiring transitional care following a qualifying hospital stay for illness, injury, or surgery.
As of February 2024, Definitive Healthcare currently tracks more than 16,700 active skilled nursing facilities and nearly 2,000 SNF corporations in the U.S. In fact, there are more skilled nursing facilities than hospitals in the United States. The number of SNFs in each state varies greatly, as some states have more than 1,000 SNFs and other states have fewer than 30. The overall average of SNFs per state is 327.
Using our LongTermCareView product, we ranked the U.S. states with the most skilled nursing facilities. Data on these facilities is updated daily and based on proprietary research.
| Rank | State | Number of SNFs | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TX | 1,313 | Explore |
| 2 | CA | 1,240 | Explore |
| 3 | OH | 981 | Explore |
| 4 | IL | 753 | Explore |
| 5 | FL | 726 | Explore |
| 6 | PA | 718 | Explore |
| 7 | NY | 638 | Explore |
| 8 | MO | 556 | Explore |
| 9 | IN | 554 | Explore |
| 10 | IA | 486 | Explore |
Fig. 1. Data is from LongTermCareView. Data accessed February 2024.
Which states have the most skilled nursing facilities?
Texas has the most skilled nursing facilities, with 1,313. While Texas has a total population of 28 million people, the second highest in the nation, residents over the age of 65 only make up 12.3% of the state’s total population. Texas is one of the largest states in the country by both size and population, and its top position on our SNF list reflects that.
The state with the second most SNFs is California, with 1,240. California is the largest state in the country by population, with more than 39 million people living there. The state with the third most SNFs is Ohio, with 981. Ohio has a population of more than 11 million people, with residents over age 65 representing 7% of the state’s population. Despite lacking the geographic space of Texas and California, Ohio is one of the most densely populated states in the nation.
| Rank | State | Number of SNFs | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DC | 17 | Explore |
| 2 | AK | 29 | Explore |
| 3 | DE | 43 | Explore |
| 4 | VT | 44 | Explore |
| 5 | WY | 54 | Explore |
| 6 | HI | 56 | Explore |
| 7 | NV | 75 | Explore |
| 8 | RI | 77 | Explore |
| 9 | NM | 80 | Explore |
| 10 | NH | 91 | Explore |
Fig. 2. Data is from LongTermCareView. Data accessed February 2024.
Which states have the fewest skilled nursing facilities?
Although it’s not technically a state, the District of Columbia has the fewest skilled nursing facilities in our ranking, with 17 SNFs. Washington, D.C., is a relatively small city, with a population under 800,000.
The state with the second lowest number of SNF’s is Alaska, with only 29 SNFs. Alaska is one of the most sparsely populated states in the country. The third-place state in our SNF ranking is Delaware, the smallest U.S. state, with 43 SNFs.
Skilled nursing facilities by state
Fig. 3 - Data is from LongTermCareView. Data accessed February 2024.
How many beds does the average skilled nursing facility have?
Skilled nursing facilities come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some have more than 800 beds, while others have less than 10. Across the United States, SNFs have an average of around 116 beds. This bed count is smaller than most hospitals, which is a testament to the more precise and individualized care than SNFs provide.
Why are skilled nursing facilities important to healthcare?
Skilled nursing facilities are important to healthcare because they provide vital post-discharge care to patients who might require additional support following their inpatient hospital stay. This is particularly important for senior citizens dealing with common skilled nursing facility diagnoses including infections, sepsis, and other conditions. Without the care of an SNF, the possibility of the patient developing post-discharge complications and having to be re-admitted increases significantly.
As with hospital stays, most patients are covered by insurance for short-term inpatient stays. SNFs, like hospitals, are rated with quality scores. High-performing skilled nursing facilities help ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care and, in reducing post-discharge complications, also help to control associated healthcare costs.
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