Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN)
A Medicare notice telling a patient a service may not be covered, so they can choose to proceed and pay.
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An Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) is a notice a provider gives a Medicare beneficiary when a service is expected not to be covered, for example because it may not meet medical-necessity rules. It explains the situation and the estimated cost so the patient can decide whether to proceed and accept financial responsibility.
A properly issued ABN is what allows the provider to bill the patient if Medicare does not pay for that service.
Why it matters for billing
Without a valid ABN, a non-covered Medicare service can become an unbillable write-off. Using ABNs correctly — issued in advance, for the right situations — protects both the patient’s informed choice and the practice’s ability to collect.
Related terms
Terms that come up alongside Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) in the revenue cycle.
Billing that gets Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) right
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Request a free billing reviewAdvance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) — frequently asked questions
When a provider expects Medicare may not cover a service, so the patient is informed in advance and can decide whether to proceed and pay.
It allows the provider to bill the patient for the service if Medicare does not pay, provided the notice was issued correctly.