Advance Beneficiary Notices (ABNs)

ABN form CMS-R-131

Advance Beneficiary Notices advise beneficiaries, before items or services actually are furnished, when Medicare is likely to deny payment for them. ABNs allow beneficiaries to make informed consumer decisions about receiving items or services for which they may have to pay out-of-pocket and to be more active participants in their own health care treatment decisions.

http://cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/refabn.asp