General: ABNs

Advance Beneficiary Notices (ABNs)

  • Advance Beneficiary Notices (ABNs) allow laboratories to bill Medicare patients directly for specific tests that are not covered by Medicare.
    • A laboratory cannot bill a Medicare Beneficiary for a laboratory test unless it notifies the patient in writing that Medicare is not going to pay for the test.
    • This notice is called an ABN.
    • The beneficiary can choose not have the test performed if they do not want to pay for it.
    • Laboratories cannot make all Medicare beneficiaries sign ABNs.
    • The ABN must contain the specific name of the test.
    • The ABN must give a specific reason the laboratory thinks payment for the test will be denied.
    • The beneficiary should sign the ABN and be given a copy.

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