Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) Requirements
Mar
8
Written by:
Wednesday, March 08, 2017 9:32 AM
The Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice
(MOON) requirements went into effect February 20.The following information and resources will help hospitals ensure they are meeting the requirements correctly.
On August 6, 2015, Congress enacted the Notice of Observation Treatment and
Implication for Care Eligibility Act (NOTICE Act) which requires hospitals, including critical access hospitals (CAHs),
to provide written and oral explanation to
individuals who receive observation services as outpatients for more
than 24 hours. The process for delivery of this notice, the Medicare Outpatient
Observation Notice (MOON), was addressed in rulemaking, and the resulting
regulations are located at 42 CFR Part 489.20(y).
The MOON must be delivered to beneficiaries in Original Medicare
(fee-for-service) and Medicare Advantage enrollees who receive
observation services as outpatients for more than 24 hours.
The hospital or CAH must provide the MOON
no later than 36 hours after observation services as an outpatient
begin.
Instructions on the MOON notice and delivery requirements are found in
the
CMS MLN Matters publication # MM9935.
Resources