The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have issued a new CMS-R-131 form. Physicians should be using this new form as of October 1st. The form is the Advance Beneficiary Notice, which there are two versions available, the general use form ABN-G and the laboratory tests form, ABN-L. Both of these forms are standard and may not be modified.
ABSs are typically used when a patient visits the practice in the same day for same reason as the initial visit, when screening services are not covered, or when a frequency of service is provided that is not covered by Medicare. The forms are designed to inform patients that payment is unlikely and they can choose to have the service or not. If the patient chooses to have the service, the ABN provides “notice” that the patient will be responsible for paying for the service.
Physicians should be aware that any old ABN forms should be discarded. New forms are available on-line at the CMS Web site, www.cms.gov/medlearn/refabn.asp .