Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) - What Does a Provider do if a Patient Refuses to Sign an ABN?
**Editors Note: This is the second in a series of articles explaining the in's-and-out's of the ABN. Watch our Website and Listserv for future articles.
The beneficiary cannot refuse to sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice and expect to have his/her financial liability waived. If the beneficiary or his/her representative refuses to sign the advanced written notice, the provider can still bill the beneficiary (for assigned claims only.) The provider needs to document the following items and have them available to WPS if requested:
- Date of refusal to sign
- Who refused to sign (beneficiary, their representative, etc?)
- Who witnessed the refusal and the signature of the witness
- The services and date of service involved (as they appear on the ABN)
If this situation happens and proper documentation is on file, the provider should bill with a modifier "GA."
