ADVANCED BENFICIARY NOTICE (ABN):

The ABN (Advanced Beneficiary Notice) is given to the patient for cases where Medicare Payment is expected to be DENIED.  The patient will be informed of this prior to providing service.  It delineates that Medicare will deny payment for this procedure or service stating the reason why Medicare denies the payment.  By all means, when still elected, patient should be responsible for payment related to this procedure or service.
Private insurance companies do not follow this ABN.

The official approved form CMS-R-131 must be used by the physicians to fill out completely and duly signed by the patient.  Providers are responsible for obtaining this prior to providing service or item to the patient.

The doctor who watches a note PC