General Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) Requirements

10 - General Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) Requirements (Rev. 13380; Issued: 08-21-25; Effective: 01-01-26; Implementation: 01-05-26) Effective July 1, 2002, the MSN is used by all A/B MACs (A), (B), (HHH), and DME MACs. The MSN is the primary vehicle by which beneficiaries are notified of decisions on their claims for Medicare benefits. The A/B MAC (A), (B), (HHH), or DME MAC mails a single MSN at the end of the month to each beneficiary for whom claim was processed during the month to inform the beneficiary of the disposition of all claims. All MACs shall issue No-Pay MSNs on a 180-day mailing cycle. MSNs with checks to the beneficiary will continue to be mailed out as processed. To ensure that all messages are uniform throughout the Medicare program, A/B MACs (A), (B), (HHH), and DME MACs may not use locally developed MSN messages until approved by the regional office (RO). The MSNs are not sent to providers. Providers receive remittance advice records. (See Chapter 22 for instructions about the provider remittance record.) The MSN contains the following sections or areas: • Disclaimer; • Title; • Claims Information; • Message; and • Appeals. Detailed requirements for completion of each section are included in §10.3. Generally, A/B MAC (A), (B), (HHH), or DME MAC requirements are the same. Where there are differences or where the specific specification applies to only the A/B MAC (B)/DME MAC or to only the A/B MAC (A)/(HHH), the difference is noted in the specific instruction. Although every attempt has been made to make the MSN as simple as possible, the MSN is sufficiently complex that MACs must maintain continuing training efforts directed at beneficiaries and providers for understanding and interpretation of data on the MSN. Although providers are not mailed copies of MSNs, beneficiaries frequently show MSNs to providers to establish deductible status for provider billing.