Medicare Wellness Visits are an essential part of preventive care for individuals 65 and older. They are covered under Medicare, and therefore free to you. You are owed a covered Medical Wellness Visit every year. Just as you would get screenings or physicals regularly, annual wellness visits should be performed annually to stay on top of your health, help inform your primary care doctor and keep you well.

Annual wellness visits are performed by many clinicians within CCP. Your primary care provider may provide them virtually or in your primary care office. Sometimes annual wellness visits are done in conjunction with your other visits (for example, a physical), or your primary care provider may work with CCP’s central clinical services team to offer the Medicare Wellness Visit to you.

What is the annual wellness visit?
  • This visit is intended to enhance the care you receive from your doctor’s office, paint a picture of your current state of health, and create a baseline for future care.
  • This visit is for talking with part of our team about your medical history, your risk for certain diseases, the current state of your health and your plan for staying well.
  • We might refer you for screenings or services outside of the appointment.
  • Any additional tests or labs that may be required as a result of the findings of your annual wellness visit would be billed separately by your doctor and would fall under a different benefit than your annual wellness visit.
Some screenings completed during this visit include:
  • Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
  • Fall Risk
  • PHQ2, 9 if appropriate
  • Tobacco Screen
  • Brief alcohol screen
What else is completed in the visit?
  • Medication reconciliation
  • Verify of problem list in our records
  • We help obtain records from specialists if not already in the chart to better inform your primary care provider
  • Assist with living will/healthcare proxy or other forms you need
  • Ensure you have all follow-up appointments you may need
How is the Annual Wellness Visit different from other visits?
  • This is not the same as a yearly physical exam.
  • We will not listen to your heart and lungs or check other parts of your body.
  • You will not get screenings or blood tests during this visit.
  • We would want to schedule another appointment if you are not feeling well or are concerned about a medical problem.

Top 5 reasons to get your annual wellness visit

  • #1

    You can identify health risks, discuss prevention and access healthcare resources.

  • #2

    By focusing on prevention, you may avoid expensive, unnecessary ER visits.

  • #3

    Annual Wellness Visits are different than your physical exams.

  • #4

    Wellness Visits help your CCP provider understand you better.

  • #5

    Annual Wellness Visits are free to you and you are entitled to this visit every year.

  • #6

    We can help refer you to the right services or specialist, and ask for further testing.

#1

You can discuss not only clinical risks and existing health issues but also emotional well-being, mental health, daily functioning, and socioeconomic challenges.

These visits provide an opportunity for patients to discuss your health concerns, ask questions, and receive personalized guidance on disease prevention, healthy lifestyle choices, and available healthcare resources. Additionally, our clinicians can offer valuable advice on medication management, immunizations, and the development of individualized care plans based on your unique health goals.

#2

Annual Wellness Visits are a good opportunity to identify potential issues when they are easier to address and before they become an emergency.

By spending more time with patients and focusing on preventive measures, clinicians can help patients stay healthy and avoid more serious health issues down the line. This is time dedicated to you to prevent costly and disruptive events like emergency department visits or hospitalizations.

#3

The Medicare Wellness exam includes some assessments performed in a physical, but none of the "physical" hands-on evaluations and tests.

Compared to a physical exam, wellness visits go into much more detail about your unique medical, social, and environmental factors that may impact your wellbeing or increase your chances of getting sick. It’s a visit dedicated to listening to your concerns, reviewing your health history, providers and medications, and making sure you are receiving the care and support you need. Based on this information, our clinicians can identify risks or gaps in care and discuss treatment options or lifestyle changes. Any follow up testing, preventive services, or visits needed will be coordinated with your primary care provider.

Finally, as a rule, Medicare does not cover an annual physical, but will cover an annual wellness exam. A wellness exam is also different from the Welcome to Medicare Visit, or the Initial Preventive Physical Exam (IPPE) Medicare Part B covers within the first 12 months you are enrolled in Medicare.

#4

The central clinical services team performing your Annual Wellness Visits are an extension of your primary care team.

If your provider refers you to our central clinical services team for your Annual Wellness Visit, our team should be viewed as an extension of your primary care office. We share the same electronic health record and serve as additional clinical resources to help care for you. We share all the information discussed so your CCP doctor can understand your current wellness status and coordinate any follow up or adjustments in care needed. It’s just one of the visits you should have throughout the year. When you skip the Annual Wellness Visit, you may end up only seeing your doctor when you’re sick.

#5

There’s no charge, no copay, no deductible for your Annual Wellness Visit. It’s a great way to track your health year after year.

Medicare beneficiaries do not have to pay anything for the Annual Wellness Visit itself unless additional billable services are provided alongside it.

The Medicare Wellness Visit is absolutely FREE and no deductible applies. We encourage CCP patients with Medicare Part B to take advantage of this exam when offered to you.

If you have questions about annual Medicare Wellness Visits, ask your doctor or call the CCP number provided to you by the centralized clinical services team scheduling the visit – include #.

#6

During your wellness exam, the clinician may detect certain changes that could indicate an underlying health condition or potential chronic illness in its early stages.

Depending on their assessment, you may be referred back to your doctor to coordinate additional tests or a referral to a specialist. Men might be asked to go through a PSA blood test while women might need a pelvic exam, pap smear, or a mammogram, for example. You may also be recommended for additional, complimentary services to better support you – such as clinical pharmacy consultation, home visits, or care management. All of this information will be shared and discussed with your primary care provider to coordinate any necessary follow-up care or services.

We encourage you to accept the Medicare Annual Wellness Exam when offered, just like any other appointment at CCP.

If you have questions, call the CCP central clinical services team at (518) 980-9250.

Am I Eligible?

Medicare Part B (Original/Traditional Medicare) and Medicare Advantage plans cover Wellness Visits at no cost to you. If you are due for your annual wellness visit, your doctor’s office or our central clinical services team will contact you to schedule the appointment. We will contact you by phone, text, or email to schedule, and you will receive appointment reminders as you would any other visit at CCP. Following your wellness visit, the CCP clinical services team will work with your CCP provider to coordinate the follow-up care that is necessary to meet your whole health needs.