The Annual Wellness Visit, sometimes called the (AWV) is a yearly appointment with your primary care provider (PCP) to create or update a personalized prevention plan. This plan may help prevent illness based on your current health and risk factors. It’s a time to talk to your Provider.
Keep in mind that the AWV is not a head-to-toe physical, but many times we can also do a physical during your Annual Wellness Visit.
What should you expect during your Annual Wellness Visit?
Your Provider will develop your personalized health prevention plan.
Check your height, weight, blood pressure, and other routine measurements; give you a health risk assessment.
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. Review your functional ability and level of safety. This includes screening for hearing impairments and your risk of falling. Your Provider must also assess your ability to perform activities of daily living (such as bathing and dressing), and your level of safety at home.
Learn about your medical and family history. Make a list of any specialist, and medications. Medications include prescription medications, as well as vitamins and supplements you may take
Your PCP should keep in mind your health status, screening history, and eligibility for age-appropriate, Medicare-covered preventive services.
Screen for cognitive impairment, including diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia
Medicare does not require that doctors use a test to screen you. Instead, doctors are asked to rely on their observations and/or on reports by you and others.
What other screenings are done?
Your Provider will screen for depression
Provide health advice and referrals to health education and/or preventive counseling services aimed at reducing identified risk factors and promoting wellness. Health education and preventive counseling may relate to weight loss, physical activity, smoking cessation, fall prevention, nutrition, and more.
Is there a Copay or Deductible?
Your Annual Wellness Visit is covered at 100% of the Medicare-approved amount when you receive the service from a participating provider. This means you pay nothing, (no deductible or coinsurance). Medicare Advantage Plans are required to cover AWVs without applying deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance when you see an in-network provider and meet Medicare’s eligibility requirements for the service.
We’d love to see you at Southwest Medical Center.