MEDICARE ANNUAL WELLNESS VISITS
A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is meant to enhance your health and focuses on your well-being through interviews and assessments of your lifestyle factors. its once-a-year visit with your PCP to create or update a personalized prevention care plan.
This plan may help prevent illness based on your current health and risk factors. Keep in mind that the AWV is not a head-to-toe physical. Also, this service is similar to but separate from the one-time Welcome to Medicare preventive visit.
Eligibility
Medicare Part B covers the Annual Wellness Visit if:
- You have had Part B for over 12 months
- And, you have not received an AWV in the past 12 months
Covered services
During your first Annual Wellness Visit, your PCP will develop your personalized prevention plan. Your PCP may also:
- Check your height, weight, blood pressure, and other routine measurements
- Give you a health risk assessment
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- This may include a questionnaire that you complete before or during the visit. The questionnaire asks about your health status, injury risks, behavioral risks, and urgent health needs.
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- Review your functional ability and level of safety
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- This includes screening for hearing impairments and your risk of falling.
- Your doctor must also assess your ability to perform activities of daily living (such as bathing and dressing), and your level of safety at home.
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- Learn about your medical and family history
- Create a written 5-10 year screening schedule or check-list
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- Your PCP should keep in mind your health status, screening history, and eligibility for age-appropriate, Medicare-covered preventive services
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- Screen for cognitive impairment, including diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia
- Screen for depression
- Screen for breast cancer
- Screen for colon cancer
- Screen for smoking
- Screen for alcohol abuse
- Advanced Care Planning
Costs
If you qualify, Original Medicare covers the Annual Wellness Visit at 100% of the Medicare-approved amount, no cost share to patient.