Final answer:
Advance notification is required to inform Medicare beneficiaries about potential costs for services that might not be covered. The ABN is optional for providers to issue for excluded or non-covered services, informing the patient that they may bear the costs. The correct answer is (c) ABN Optional for Excluded Services.
Step-by-step explanation:
Advance notification is required for certain Medicare services to ensure that the patient understands that Medicare may not cover the service, and consequently, the patient may be responsible for the costs. An Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) is a standard form that providers must issue to a Medicare beneficiary when the service provided is not expected to be paid for by Medicare. On this form, the patient acknowledges their responsibility for payment if Medicare does not cover the service.
For the options provided:
- Advance Notification Required applies to certain kinds of services where it is mandatory to inform the beneficiary in advance.
- ABN Required for All Services is incorrect; ABNs are not required for services that are definitely covered.
- ABN Optional for Excluded Services suggests that while it is not mandatory, providers might still choose to issue an ABN for services that are generally not covered by Medicare.
- No Notification Required applies to services that are clearly covered by Medicare, for which no advance notice about potential non-coverage is needed.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question 'For which services is advance notification required, while an Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) is optional for excluded or non-covered services?' would be (c) ABN Optional for Excluded Services.