Make sure your practice uses the new version of the Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) when it goes into effect and consider an early switch to prevent mistakes.
“CMS improved the notice’s readability and design,” according to a notice on the
Beneficiary Notice Initiative page. Even though CMS didn’t make any substantive changes to the form,
you can’t use the current version of CMS-131-R, which has a Jan. 31 expiration date, after May 11. Doing so will invalidate the entire ABN process, and in situations when you must issue an ABN, your practice will be stuck with the cost of the item or service.
Effective May 12, you must use an ABN with a 3/31/2029 expiration date, which is on the lower left-hand corner of the form. However, you can start using the new form now, CMS says.
CMS also confirmed that you can keep using the ABN that expired on Jan. 31 until the new one goes into effect.
These notices may expire prior to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. In the event the notice expires, providers and plans may continue using the current version of the notice after the expiration date.
Get your team to help with a thorough sweep of your current ABN forms to prevent mistakes. In addition to computers, check for printed versions, particularly those that have information, such as the item or service, already filled in. This is a good time to update cost estimates if you have pre-printed that on the form and to give everyone a refresher on ABN compliance. For example, you must give the patient the opportunity to ask questions and you can never pre-select a patient’s option.