CenCal Health is notifying our CenCal CareConnect hospital partners of an update to the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON). The Office of Management and Budget has approved an updated MOON, with improvements to readability and design. The revised notice is effective immediately and will remain valid through February 28, 2029. Updated versions are available in both English and Spanish.
Providers may continue using existing stock of the previous MOON version through April 20, 2026. All providers must transition to the updated MOON no later than this date.
As a reminder, providers are required to deliver a MOON to Medicare beneficiaries, including health plan enrollees, who are receiving observation services as outpatients. The notice must clearly inform beneficiaries that they are not admitted as inpatients of a hospital or critical access hospital (CAH).
Reference copies of the updated MOON and related FAQs from CMS.gov