What is the Annual Medicare Wellness Visit?
Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a way for your Provider to keep you as healthy as possible. They let physicians develop personalized preventive care plans, review and update medical histories, reconcile medication lists, identify other providers involved in your healthcare, and summarize your acute care. As a longer visit, the AWV lets clinicians develop a proactive, coordinated care plan, which is rarely possible during short, illness-focused office visits.
What steps will my Healthcare Provider take to complete my Annual Wellness Visit?
- Administer a health risk assessment (HRA).
- Review medical and family health history.
- Document risk factors for potential depression, including current or past experiences with depression or other mood disorders.
- Review functional ability and level of safety.
- Conduct a general health assessment which includes the following:
- Height
- Weight
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Blood Pressure Check
- Other routine measurements appropriate to gather a thorough medical or family history.
- Create a Counseling and Healthcare Plan
- Your Provider will establish a screening schedule, such as a checklist for the next 5-10 years, based on:
- Age- appropriate preventive services covered by Medicare.
- Recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; and
- your HRA, health status, and screening history.
- Your Provider will establish a screening schedule, such as a checklist for the next 5-10 years, based on:
- As a last step, your Provider will also provide you with personalized health advice and provide necessary referrals to health education, preventive counseling services, or programs, as appropriate.
Good News!
You are covered 100% by Medicare for this exam. There is no deductible or coinsurance required of you, so call or go online to request an appointment for your Wellness Exam today!