What is a Medicare Advance Beneficiary Notice?
An Advance BeneficiaryA person who has health care insurance through the Medicare or Medicaid programs.... Notice (ABN), also known as a waiver of liability, is a notice health care providers and suppliers are required to give Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part AMedicare Part A is hospital coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. It covers inpatient care in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. It also covers limited home healthcare services and hospice care.... and Medicare Part BMedicare Part B is medical coverage for people with Original Medicare benefits. It covers doctor visits, preventative care, tests, durable medical equipment, and supplies. Medicare Part B pays 80 percent of most medically necessary healthcare... (Original MedicareOriginal Medicare is private fee-for-service health insurance for people on Medicare. It has two parts. Part A is hospital coverage. Part B is medical coverage....) when they believe that Medicare will not cover the services or items.
If a provider does not provide an ABN, and there is no explanation as to why the procedure was not covered, the Medicare beneficiary is not required to pay for the service. If the ABN is signed before receiving the service or item, and Medicare does not pay for it, the beneficiary is required to pay (some exceptions apply).
Providers are not required to issue an ABN for services or items Medicare does not cover.