Q&A: Upcoming changes to the IM form

Q: I’ve heard about changes coming to the Important Message from Medicare (IM) form. How will these changes impact case managers?

A: Beginning April 1, hospitals will need to start using the new versions of three forms—the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON), Important Message (IM), and Detailed Notice of Discharge (DND).

There aren’t any substantive changes to the MOON, but the IM is a different story.

The updated version of the IM requires hospitals to fill in contact information for the payer for any Medicare Advantage patient. Previously, hospitals were not required to do this. It may sound like a small change, but it could prove to be time-consuming. Oftentimes, patients do not carry their cards. Some patients are not even aware of which managed Medicare plan they have, says Janet L. Blondo, LCSW-C, MSW, CMAC, ACM, CCM, C-ASWCM, ACSW.

If patient access staff does not record the information on the IM form (because they don’t have it yet), it’s up to the case managers to track down the information.