Practice Management Alert

Question: I recently heard there is another ABN update that we need to comply with. We just switched to the new ABNs that combine the ABN and NEMB. Is there really another update we need to comply with now?Washington SubscriberAnswer: While it seems like you just got done switching over to the combined advance beneficiary (ABN) and Notice of Exclusion of Medicare Benefits (NEMB), there is another update available. The latest version of the ABN form CMS-R-193, with the release date of 3- 20-11, is now available at www.cms.gov/BNI by clicking the "revised ABN" link, said CMS's Donna Williamson during a June 28 CMS Open Door Forum. Although the form doesn't include any substantial changes, mandatory use of the new version begins on Nov. 1, 2011.A caller to the forum asked why the form was updated in the absence of substantial changes, because many practices find it cumbersome and [...]