Boost Patient Health with Medicare Annual Wellness Visits

As a primary care provider, you are often the first step in helping your patients take charge of their health. The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) can help you help your patients through vital measurements, medication reviews, advanced care planning, and preventive screenings.

Important Reminders about the AWV

• It is not a physical exam — no hands-on examination is required.
• The AWV is fully covered by Medicare (100%) with no cost to the patient.

What the AWV Includes

• Health Risk Assessment (HRA): Collect demographic data, health status, behavioral risks, and psychosocial risks.
• Vital Measurements: Measure height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, and other routine measurements.
• Medication Review: List all current medications, including supplements and over-the-counter drugs.
• Family and Medical History: Update relevant history to identify potential risk factors.
• Functional and Safety Assessment: Assess ability to perform activities of daily living, and evaluate fall risk and home safety.
• Cognitive Impairment Assessment
• Depression Screening
• Screening Schedule: Establish a 5-to-10-year screening schedule for appropriate preventive services.
• Advance Care Planning: Discuss patient wishes regarding future medical care and complete relevant documents.

Here’s what to keep in mind when conducting AWVs:

• Verify the patient’s Medicare eligibility and the date of the patient’s last AWV.
• Medicare covers an AWV once every 12 months.
• An AWV can be performed and billed by any of the following:
  • Physicians (MD/DO)
  • Non-physician practitioners (NPs, PAs, CNSs)
  • Medical staff under the supervision of a provider (e.g., RNs)
• Offer to share findings with the patient’s other providers and caregivers to ensure comprehensive care.
• There are three different billing codes for AWVs: