Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-Coverage (ABN) (CMS-R-131)

The use of written notices to inform beneficiaries of their liability under specific conditions has been available since Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (the Act), section 1879, Limitation On Liability, was enacted in 1972 (P.L. 92-603). Similar required notification and liability protections are available under other sections of the Act: section 1834(a)(18) refund requirements for certain items when unsolicited telephone contacts are made, section 1834(j)(4) for the same types of items when there is neither a required advance coverage determination nor required supplier number; 1834(a)(15) also for advance determinations for these items and section 1842(l) applicable to physicians not accepting assignment. Implementing regulations are found at 42 CFR 411.404(b) and (c), and 411.408(d)(2) and (f), on written notice requirements. These statutory requirements apply only to Original Medicare, not Medicare Advantage plans. Under section 1879 of the Act, Medicare beneficiaries may be held financially responsible for items or services usually covered under Medicare, but denied in an individual case under specific statutory exclusions, if the beneficiary is informed prior to furnishing the issues or services that Medicare is likely to deny payment. When required, the ABN is delivered by Part B paid physicians, providers (including institutional providers like outpatient hospitals) practitioners (such as chiropractors), and suppliers, as well as hospice providers and Religious Non-medical Health Care Institutions paid under Part A. Other Medicare institutional providers paid under Part A use other approved notice for this purpose.

The latest form for Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-Coverage (ABN) (CMS-R-131) expires 2029-03-31 and is listed under ICR 202511-0938-004.