If a provider thinks that a procedure will not be covered by Medicare, the patient is notified by means of a(n) _____.

The correct answer is an ABN, which stands for Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage. This document is crucial in Medicare-related procedures, as it informs patients that a specific service or procedure may not be covered by Medicare and that they may be responsible for the costs incurred. By using an ABN, the provider provides transparency regarding potential coverage issues, thus enabling patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare options.

The use of an ABN is particularly important because it protects both the patient and the provider. It ensures that patients understand their financial responsibility ahead of the procedure, which helps avoid unexpected bills. Additionally, should the patient choose to proceed with the service, the ABN serves as documentation to support that the patient was made aware of the possible non-coverage before the procedure was performed.

In contrast to the ABN, other options such as FOA (Field Operations Agreement), NCD (National Coverage Determination), and RFC (Request for Comments) do not pertain specifically to patient notification regarding potential non-coverage of services. An FOA is related to Medicare's administrative functions, an NCD outlines specific criteria for coverage decisions made by Medicare, and an RFC typically concerns the gathering of public input on proposed regulations. Thus, these terms do