CMS redesigns and simplifies Medicare Summary Notice

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has redesigned the statement it uses to inform Medicare beneficiaries about their claims for services and benefits in an attempt to simplify information and help prevent fraud.

The redesigned statement, known as the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), will be available online  and, starting in 2013, will be mailed out quarterly to beneficiaries.

According to CMS, the redesign includes several features not now available to Medicare beneficiaries. They include:

• A clear notice on how to check the form for important facts and potential fraud
• An easy-to-understand snapshot of the beneficiary’s deductible status, a list of providers they saw, and whether their claims for Medicare services were approved
• Clearer language, including consumer-friendly descriptions for medical procedures
• Information on preventive services