3-12-08
Medicare Advanced Beneficiary Notice Forms Replaced
Beginning Monday, March 3, 2008, providers, physicians, practitioners (including occupational therapists), and suppliers may use the revised Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) for all situations where Medicare payment is expected to be denied to a beneficiary.
The revised ABN for Noncoverage replaces the existing Notice of Exclusion from Medicare Benefits (NEMB or Form CMS-20007), ABN-General Use (Form CMS-R-131G), and ABN-Lab (Form CMS-R-131L). CMS will allow a 6-month transition period from the date of implementation for use of the revised form and instructions. Thus, all providers and suppliers must begin using the revised ABN (CMS-R-131) no later than September 1, 2008.
The new notice includes a mandatory field for cost estimates of items and services, may be used for voluntary notifications, and provides an option for beneficiaries to pay out-of-pocket rather than submit a Medicare claim.
The revised form and instructions will be posted on Medicare's Beneficiary Notice Initiative Web page.
