Picture this, you’ve got your yearly physical exam all scheduled and ready to go, and you’re feeling pretty confident that Medicare’s got your back. But after you finish the checkup, a bill arrives, and you discover something alarming: Medicare won’t cover your annual physical exam!
It comes as a big surprise – the one that can break your bank- to patients who think Medicare will cover their annual physical exam coverage like many other private payers. It’s true, Medicare isn’t liable to provide coverage for your annual physical exams, but it offers a single IPPE (Initital Preventive Physical Examination) and AWVs (Annual Wellness Visits) Examination.
Feeling lost? You are not the only one! The disparities between conventional physicals and how Medicare approaches yearly check-ups have caused many headaches for healthcare providers and beneficiaries ever since the Medicare annual wellness visit was introduced in 2011.
During a yearly physical, your doctor will meticulously probe and prod your body, conducting various tests to identify any problems. But, during a “Welcome to Medicare” checkup and “Annual Wellness Visit,” the focus is on preventing any potential problems from developing by taking into account your risk factors, developing a unique health plan, and ensuring that you’re up to date with preventive screenings. Although both checkups may seem familiar, they are quite different from each other, which you must know about.
| Physical Exam | Medicare’s Wellness Exam |
| Examine your medical and familial background | Examine your medical and familial background |
| Perform regular assessments, including height, weight, and blood pressure measurements | Perform regular assessments, including height, weight, and blood pressure measurements |
| Evaluate factors that increase the risk of preventable illnesses | Develop or revise a record of healthcare providers and prescribed medications |
| Conduct assessments of the lungs, head and neck, abdomen, and neurological system | Establish a timetable for preventive screenings |
| Assess reflexes and vital indicators | Evaluate cognitive health |
| Collect urine and blood samples for laboratory testing | Provide individualized health recommendations |
Let’s delve into the intriguing reasons why Medicare exclusively covers annual wellness visits and the single initial preventive physical examination but not yearly physical exams. It becomes crystal clear when we simplify the distinctions between an annual physical exam and an annual wellness visit. The KHN article states, “An annual physical typically involves a doctor’s examination, bloodwork, or other medical tests. On the other hand, the annual wellness visit usually doesn’t entail a physical examination, except for routine measurements like height, weight, and blood pressure.” Meanwhile, the UNC School of Medicine elucidates that “Medicare wellness visits…are specifically designed to enhance your overall healthcare by scrutinizing your health risks based on your family history and health behaviors.”
Picture the annual physical exam as a more “hands-on” assessment, where the doctor puts their hands on you to check for potential problems, while the annual wellness visit leans more toward a “hands-off” approach to health evaluation. When considering what to cover under traditional Medicare, the federal government seemingly opted for a wider view of a patient’s well-being. According to AARP, the annual wellness visit is intended to serve as a preventive measure, catching any potential health problems early on and providing a baseline for future yearly checkups. It’s like a snapshot of your current health to inform future healthcare decisions.
The notion that Medicare only covers annual wellness visits and not annual physical exams does not imply that the latter is unimportant. Instead, it appears that the federal government values annual wellness visits more for the overall health of Medicare beneficiaries. Nevertheless, as previously mentioned, Medicare beneficiaries can still opt to have an annual physical exam with their primary care providers, albeit with associated costs. For Medicare Advantage plan members, however, an annual physical may already be part of their package deal.
As previously indicated, the muddling between a yearly wellness assessment and a yearly physical check-up may bring about discontent among patients and financial issues for healthcare providers. To mitigate these predicaments, here are five pointers to consider.
In the event that a Medicare beneficiary requests the arrangement of an annual physical exam, it is crucial that the medical staff take the opportunity to confirm that the patient is in fact, seeking this type of check-up. A comprehensive discussion with the patient must ensue, covering a thorough evaluation of the distinctions between an annual wellness examination, an annual physical examination, and the Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE), if pertinent. It is also critical to elucidate what their insurance plan will and will not cover, in addition to the anticipated out-of-pocket expenses the patient may need to cover for the arranged exam.
By scrutinizing these disparities prior to providing any wellness service, the probability of a negative patient experience due to an unexpected medical bill will be greatly reduced. Patients who are discontent may become more resistant to paying their share of the bill and may voice their grievances, which can adversely affect a provider’s reputation and online standing.
In the event that you conduct an annual wellness examination, an annual physical examination, or an IPPE, and you may find it beneficial to provide additional preventive measures or treatments that are not typically covered during these routine check-ups. However, prior to initiating these treatments or services, it is imperative to elucidate to patients the reason behind your recommendation and the probable costs that patients may incur. By doing so, the aforementioned issues can be effectively sidestepped.
Post-service delivery, and meticulous documentation are imperative. Healthcare providers must ensure that they precisely document the service provided sans any vagueness. This will aid in ensuring that the coding process is accurately executed and subsequently enable the billing department to correctly bill the appropriate insurance policy while collecting the rightful sum from the patient.
Education is indispensable to ensure consistency and accuracy in coding and billing. It is vital that the staff receives appropriate training to understand the nuances between Medicare annual wellness visit, annual physical exam, and IPPE. This comprehension will help them comprehend the coding, billing, and reimbursement process better. An efficient way to aid their memory is by creating a cheat sheet that acts as a quick reminder of the difference between these examinations while they’re completing the documentation.
Delve into the depths of strategizing how to effectively prompt and prod your esteemed Medicare patients to attend their annual wellness exams. As the vast majority of such patients are failing to avail themselves of this crucially covered service, improving the efficacy of your practice’s communication with them could very well be the ticket to a substantial uptick in volume.
If you’re looking to improve the delivery of preventive services and increase patient volume and reimbursements, it’s worth considering investing in technology that can help. One such investment is 360HealthTek’s RPM Services, which can enhance your ability to provide quality care through remote patient monitoring services which provide accurate readings on your patient’s health conditions. This can help you better understand your patient’s health status without requiring them to physically visit your office, leading to improved outcomes and faster reimbursements.
Original Medicare has got your back when it comes to preventive measures. However, annual physical exams, which are considered diagnostic, are not part of this coverage. Don’t worry, though. If you don’t have any symptoms that require diagnosis, you can schedule an Annual Wellness Visit with Original Medicare. As part of the Annual Wellness Visit, a comprehensive evaluation of your overall well-being will be carried out, encompassing different physiological aspects and functions, such as the eyes, ears, nose, throat, heart, lungs, reflexes, and other bodily features. This preventative visit can help detect any potential health issues before they become bigger problems.
If you are experiencing symptoms requiring diagnosis, you should call to schedule an Annual Physical. The diagnostic physical usually includes laboratory tests, such as blood and urine samples, and a more comprehensive examination of your body to identify abnormalities. So, make sure you know the difference between an Annual Wellness Visit and an Annual Physical, and call your doctor to schedule accordingly.
Original Medicare does not extend its coverage to annual diagnostic physicals. However, fret not! They have you covered with an Annual Wellness Visit under the preventive care category. This visit is an opportunity to give your overall health a thorough check-up, and it covers various body parts and functions such as your peepers, ears, schnoz, throat, ticker, lungs, reflexes, and more. During the visit, your doctor will be on the lookout for any underlying health issues. Remember, if you need diagnosing for symptoms, you should schedule an Annual Physical that often includes laboratory tests such as urine and blood samples.
Provider of state-of-the-art healthcare technology solutions for patients, payers, and providers.
CONTACT US
