3. Replacement

For Medicare purposes, replacement is made on a pint-for-pint basis. Thus, a beneficiary cannot be charged for deductible blood if the beneficiary has replaced or arranged to replace each pint or unit furnished them.

Once a provider accepts a pint of replacement blood from a beneficiary or another source acting on the beneficiary's behalf, replacement has been made, i.e., the beneficiary may not be charged for blood, even though the blood is later found to be unfit and is discarded.

When a provider accepts blood donated in advance, in anticipation of need by a specific beneficiary, the donations are considered replacements for the pints or units subsequently furnished them.