CMS Requests Public Comment on Revised Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN)
On Friday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a notice in the Federal Register on a revised version of the general ABN (CMS-R-131). CMS is requesting public comments during the 60-day comment period that will be considered as part of finalizing the revised ABN.
As required by Section 1879 of the Social Security Act, the ABN is used to inform beneficiaries of potential financial liability, except in home health care and inpatient hospital settings. Formerly, CMS maintained two versions of the ABN, a general and lab-test specific version, but with this revision, CMS proposes to combine these two versions of the ABN into a single notice meeting both needs.
Other proposed changes are described in the Web site posting. Physicians, practitioners, providers and suppliers already required to use ABNs will continue to use the currently approved ABN until the revised notice is finalized and approved.
View the announcement and requirements for submitting comments in the Federal Register at www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/advanced.html. On this page, under "Search by Issue Date," on the "Specific Date" line, select "On" and enter "02/23/2007" in the date field. After "Search" in the next line, enter "CMS-R-131." The announcement should appear first if multiple items are found.
In addition, copies of the ABN and supporting documents are available at www.cms.hhs.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995. On the menu on the left side of this page, click on "PRA Listing," then scroll down or search for "CMS-R-131." Alternatively, you may email a request including name, address, phone number, OMB control number (0938-0566) and CMS document identifier (CMS-R-131) to [email protected], or call the Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786-1326.
In order to be accepted, comments must be sent to:
CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs
Division of Regulations Development — C
Attention: Bonnie L. Harkless
Room C4-26-05,
7500 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
Comments must be received by 5 p.m. April 24, 2007.
This article originally appeared in the February 2007 issue of HME Business.