Traditional MedicareAdministrativeMedium impact
Release of the Updated Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice
Medical Mutual of Ohio·Emergency Medicine·In the News
Effective date
Dec 27, 2024
We identified it
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
CMS has released an updated Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) with improved readability and design, effective immediately through February 28, 2029. Providers can continue using existing stock of the old MOON until April 20, 2026, but must transition to the new form by that date.
Action Required
By April 20, 2026: Administrative staff must transition to using the updated MOON form for all Medicare beneficiaries receiving outpatient observation services. Download the new English and Spanish versions from CMS's BNI webpage and update form inventory. Existing old forms may be used until the April 2026 deadline but new forms must be implemented by then.