The revised Advanced Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN), Form CMS-R-131, is issued by 

providers (including independent laboratories), physicians, practitioners and suppliers in 

situations where Medicare payment is expected to be denied. The revised ABN replaces the 

ABN-G (Form CMS-R-131G), ABN-L (Form CMS-R-131L) and NEMB (Form CMS-20007). The 

revised ABN manual instructions on mandatory and voluntary use of the revised ABN are 

available by clicking here. 
 

Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) must use the revised ABN for items/services expected to be 

denied under Medicare Part B only. Use of the new CMS-R-131 has been mandated since Jan. 1, 

2012 and it is critical that providers are using the most recent version of the form. The latest 

version of the ABN has a release date of 3/2011 printed in the lower left-hand corner. ABNs 

with the release date of 3/2008 issued on or after Jan. 1, 2012 are considered invalid.
 

Providers should also refer to Medicare Claims Processing Manual Chapter 30 - Financial 

Liability Protections for reference on ABN issues. CMS also has an official publication dedicated 

to ABN.
 

Contact: Patrick Cucinelli, pcucinelli@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8827