Medicare Annual Wellness Visits

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) covers annual Medicare wellness visits for certain Medicare recipients. At Honeycomb Medical Group’s four offices in Memphis, Tennessee, and Holly Springs, Mississippi, the primary care providers offer Medicare wellness visits. Your provider can develop a personalized prevention plan and monitor your general well-being. Call the nearest office to schedule a Medicare wellness visit, or book your appointment online today.

What are Medicare wellness visits?

A Medicare wellness visit, or annual wellness visit (AMV), is an annual checkup for certain Medicare beneficiaries. It presents an opportunity to check in on your health, ask your primary care provider questions, and create a preventive care plan. 

Medicare wellness visits are unique in that they emphasize education and prevention instead of diagnosis and treatment. They’re designed to teach you about healthy living and catch potentially serious health problems in their early stages of development.

Who is eligible for a Medicare wellness visit?

You’re eligible for a Medicare wellness visit if you’ve received Medicare Part B benefits for at least one year and you haven’t had your initial “Welcome to Medicare” exam within the last 12 months. 

If you’ve already had your “Welcome to Medicare” exam, you must wait 12 full months until scheduling your next annual Medicare wellness visit.

What do Medicare wellness visits involve?

At Honeycomb Medical Group, Medicare wellness visits include the following:

• Review of your medical and family history
• Review and update the list of your current medical providers
• Measurement of height, weight, and body mass index (BMI)
• Assessment for possible cognitive impairment
• Review of potential risk factors for depression
• Review of functional ability and level of safety
• Provide health advice and referrals (when necessary)

Your Honeycomb Medical Group provider creates a personalized preventive screening and laboratory testing schedule based on your current health, medical history, and age. They also draft a list of risk factors for chronic conditions and recommend potential treatment options (and their benefits).

Who can perform a Medicare annual wellness visit?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) states that an annual wellness exam must be performed by a doctor or another medical provider recognized by Medicare, such as a physician assistant or nurse practitioner. 

The providers at each Honeycomb Medical Group location are qualified to complete Medicare annual wellness visits.

What should I bring to a Medicare wellness visit?

The providers at Honeycomb Medical Group recommend bringing the following items to your Medicare wellness visit:

• A completed Medicare Health Risk Assessment
• A complete list of the medications, vitamins, and supplements you take
• A list of the top concerns or questions you have for your provider
• Results from any recent or relevant laboratory or diagnostic tests

It may help to bring a friend or family member to your appointment as well. Visiting the doctor can be stressful, but some moral support can help you feel at ease.

Call the nearest Honeycomb Medical Group office to schedule a Medicare wellness visit, or make your appointment online today.