News Update: Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act includes a provision for Medicare to pay for an annual wellness visit (AWV) with a primary care provider. The AWV is a strategy session designed to help develop an ongoing health plan for all Medicare beneficiaries. The purpose of this visit is to review the medical history, identify potential health risks, and develop a personalized prevention plan that will maximize health and longevity. So long as no active health concerns are addressed during the AWV, no co-payments or deductibles will apply.
What is covered during the AWV?
- • Routine measurements like blood pressure, height and weight
- • Review of medical and family history
- • Establishing a list of current health care providers and suppliers
- • Creating a current list of medications
- • A personal risk assessment
- • Screening for functional ability and safety
- • Setting up a schedule of screening and preventative services applicable to the next five to 10 years
- • Optional advanced care planning
When are you eligible for an AWV? You are eligible for your first AWV after you have had Medicare Part B for more than a year. If you had a “Welcome to Medicare” exam, you must wait 12 months to have your first AWV.
An Annual Wellness Visit can be scheduled in any of our offices, located in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria.