Medicare AdvantageAdministrativeMedium impact
Updated Medicare Important Message (IM) and Detailed Notice of Discharge (DND) Forms
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina·Medicare Advantage
Effective date
Jul 16, 2026
We identified it
Jul 17, 2026
Summary
CMS has approved updated versions of the Important Message (IM) form (CMS-10065) and Detailed Notice of Discharge (DND) form effective immediately, with improved readability and design enhancements. Hospitals must transition from old forms to the new approved versions by May 15, 2026, and continue using them through March 31, 2029. These forms notify Medicare beneficiaries of their discharge rights and appeal procedures.
Action Required
By May 15, 2026: Hospital compliance and billing teams must obtain and implement the updated CMS-10065 (Important Message) and DND (Detailed Notice of Discharge) forms. Update all inpatient discharge processes to use the new forms instead of previous versions. Ensure all staff who provide discharge notifications to Medicare inpatient beneficiaries (Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage) are trained on the new forms. Verify that both forms are available in the patient's medical record and billing systems. Failure to transition by the deadline may result in non-compliance with CMS requirements and potential audit findings.