Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice

Notice Instructions: Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice

Page 1 of the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON)

The following blanks must be completed by the hospital. Information inserted may be typed or legibly hand-written in 12-point font or the equivalent.

Patient Name:

Fill in the patient’s full name or attach patient label.

Patient ID number:

Fill in an ID number that identifies this patient, such as a medical record number or the patient’s birthdate or attach a patient label. This number should not be the patient’s social security number.

“You’re a hospital outpatient receiving observation services. You are not an inpatient because:”

Fill in the specific reason the patient is in an outpatient, rather than an inpatient stay.

Page 2 of the MOON

Additional Information:

This may include, but is not limited to, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) information, notation that a beneficiary refused to sign the notice, hospital waivers of the beneficiary’s responsibility for the cost of self-administered drugs, Part A cost sharing responsibilities if the beneficiary is subsequently admitted as an inpatient, physician name, specific information for contacting hospital staff, or additional information that may be required under applicable state law.

Hospitals may attach additional pages to this notice if more space is needed for this section.

Oral Explanation:

When delivering the MOON, hospitals and CAHs are required to explain the notice and its content, document that an oral explanation was provided and answer all beneficiary questions to the best of their ability.

Signature of Patient or Representative:

Have the patient or representative sign the notice to indicate that he or she has received it and understands its contents. If a representative’s signature is not legible, print the representative’s name by the signature.

Date/Time: Have the patient or representative place the date and time that he or she signed the notice.

Instructions CMS-10611 OMB expiration: XX-XX-XXXX