The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released an updated Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) Form CMS-R-131.

Providers, including home health, hospice, and nursing homes, should use it to notify Medicare beneficiaries when coverage is expected to be denied for certain services to notify Medicare beneficiaries when coverage is expected to be denied for certain services.

Note: Home health and hospice providers are required to use this form and can begin using the updated form now. Nursing homes use this form for services under Medicare B.

Use of the form, which is available in English and Spanish, is required starting May 12, 2026.

CMS improved the readability and design of the form, but the rest remains consistent with previous forms.

Find the form in the downloads section of the CMS Beneficiary Notices Fee-for-Service ABN page.