A Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) is that piece of paper that comes in the mail and has “This is not a bill” stamped on it. Medicare is a backward system and it works like this. You go to a provider. They provide a service. They send a bill to Medicare. A computer pays the provider. The computer sends you a notice that they paid the provider on your behalf. It is your responsibility to make certain that the changes were correct. Things to look for:

• Duplicate payments for the same service
• Dates of service on the MSN from the dates you received the service
• Items or services you do not have a record of having received
• Billings for medical equipment or services that your doctor did not order

To see the redesigned MSN and for information on how to read it, click here.