How to prepare for your Medicare wellness visit?
Your health care provider will do these things at your visit:
- Review your blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight and body mass index (BMI).
- Review your current health problems, as well as your medical, surgical, family and social histories.
- Review your current medications
- Conduct a health risk assessment
- Provide nutrition counseling
- Discuss an exercise plan to fit your lifestyle
What should be included in an annual wellness visit?
- Welcome to Medicare - G0402 (Within the one year from the patient enrolled in Medicare)
- Initial Annual Wellness Visit - G0438 (After the 1st year of enrollment)
- Subsequent Annual Wellness Visit - G0439
What does a Medicare wellness visit include?
· A Medicare wellness exam includes filling out a risk questionnaire, a review or your medical and family history, developing or updating a list of current providers and prescriptions, height, weight, blood pressure reading, routine measurements,...
What happens during a wellness visit?
Your doctor can answer any questions you might have about:
- birth control
- bleeding or pain after sex
- irregular periods
- pelvic pain
- pregnancy tests
- tests for chlamydia, g onorrhea, HIV, HPV, or other infections you may be worried about
- itching or discomfort on your vulva or in your vagina
- vaginal discharge/smell
Can you bill 99397 and G0439 together?
No you cannot bill the AWV with the preventive visit. You can bill the AWV with a separate E/M.
What is the reimbursement rate for Medicare Annual Wellness visit?
Current procedural code (CPT) code 99497 can be billed for the first 30 minutes of the service, and CPT code 99498 is billed for each additional 30 minutes. These can be billed along with the HCPCS codes for the AWV visit. Average reimbursement for these services are $82.90 and $72.50, respectively.
How do I code a Medicare Annual Wellness visit?
This visit must be coded using CPT G0402. Once a patient has been enrolled for more than twelve months, the G0402 code will be rejected regardless of whether the IPPE visit previously took place or not. After a patient has been enrolled in Medicare for twelve months, they become eligible for an Annual Wellness Visit.
What is the billing code for annual wellness visit?
The two CPT codes used to report AWV services are: G0438 initial visit. G0439 subsequent visit.
Can you bill G0439 with 99213?
Medicare does discourage this and says there is too much 'crossover' between these two preventive services. We usually see a 99213 or 99214 with a G0438 or G0439 to represent the problem management outside the AWV. If you bill G0438/G0439 and a 99397, recognize that Medicare does not cover the 99397.
What is the difference between G0439 and 99397?
A full physical exam, 99397, is different than an Annual Wellness Visit, G0438/G0439, or “Welcome to Medicare Exam”, G0402. A full physical 99397 or 99387 is NOT covered by Medicare and patients are responsible for the cost and can be billed.
Can you use modifier 25 on G0439?
Along with code G0438 or G0439, CPT code modifier -25 must be appended to the medically necessary E&M service. CPT guidelines define the -25 modifier as "Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management (E/M) service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service."
Does G0403 need a modifier?
Yes, you will need a modifier when reporting codes G0402 & G0403 together.
Can you bill G0444 and G0439 together?
You can bill G0444 with a G0439, the subsequent AWV, which does not list depression screening as a required element.
How do I bill my annual physical?
Physical Exam CPT Codes For New Patients CPT 99384: New patient annual preventive exam (12-17 years). CPT 99385: New patient annual preventive exam (18-39 years). CPT 99386: New patient annual preventive exam (40-64 years). CPT 99387: New patient annual preventive exam (65 years and older).
What is included in CPT 99396?
CPT® 99396 in section: Periodic comprehensive preventive medicine reevaluation and management of an individual including an age and gender appropriate history, examination, counseling/anticipatory guidance/risk factor reduction interventions, and ... more.
Can you bill an office visit with an annual wellness visit?
A - Yes. Traditional Medicare and all managed Medicare plans will accept the G codes for AWVs. Q - Can I bill a routine office visit with a Medicare AWV? A - When appropriate, a routine office visit (9920X and 9921X) may be billed with a Medicare AWV.
What is a patient in Medicare?
The term “patient” refers to a Medicare beneficiary.
How long does Medicare cover AWV?
Medicare covers an AWV for all patients who aren’t within 12 months after the eligibility date for their first Medicare Part B benefit period and who didn’t have an IPPE or an AWV within the past 12 months. Medicare pays for only 1 IPPE per patient per lifetime and 1 additional AWV per year thereafter.
How many times can you report ACP?
There are no limits on the number of times you can report ACP for a certain patient in a certain time period. When billing this patient service multiple times, document the change in the patient’s health status and/or wishes regarding their end-of-life care. Preparing Eligible Medicare Patients for the AWV.
Does Medicare cover EKG?
No. Medicare waives both the coinsurance/copayment and the Medicare Part B deductible for the IPPE (HCPCS code G0402). Neither is waived for the screening electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) (HCPCS codes G0403, G0404, or G0405).
Is IPPE covered by Medicare?
The IPPE is an introduction to Medicare and covered benefits and focuses on health promotion, disease prevention, and detection to help patients stay well. We encourage providers to inform patients about the AWV and perform such visits. The SSA explicitly prohibits Medicare coverage for routine physical examinations.
Does Medicare waive ACP deductible?
Medicare waives the ACP deductible and coinsurance once per year when billed with the AWV. If the AWV billed with ACP is denied for exceeding the once-per-year limit, Medicare will apply the ACP deductible and coinsurance. The deductible and coinsurance apply when you deliver the ACP outside of the covered AWV.
Do you have to report a diagnosis code for IPPE?
You must report a diagnosis code when submitting an IPPE claim. Medicare doesn’t require you to document a specific IPPE diagnosis code, so you may choose any diagnosis code consistent with the patient’s exam.
How many visits can Medicare reimburse?
Medicare will reimburse up to 22 visits billed with the codes G0447 and G0473, combined, in a 12-month period. These 12 months are broken down as follows: First month: one face-to-face visit week. Months 2–6: one face-to-face visit every other week.
When is a preventive physical exam required for Medicare?
Initial preventive physical examination; face-to-face visit, services limited to new beneficiary during the first 12 months of Medicare enrollment
How long after Medicare Part B coverage period do you have to receive IPPE?
A: All patients who are not within 12 months after the effective date of their first Medicare Part B coverage period and have not received an IPPE or AWV within the past 12 months.
How long does it take for Medicare to pay for IPPE?
Also known as the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit, Medicare pays for a single beneficiary IPPE per lifetime, and the IPPE must be furnished no later than the first 12 months after the beneficiary’s eligibility date for Medicare Part B benefits.
How many cessation attempts does Medicare cover?
Medicare will cover two cessation attempts per year, with each attempt including a maximum of four intermediate or intensive sessions, with the patient receiving up to eight sessions annually.
What is the body mass index for obesity counseling?
Patients with a body mass index of 30.0 are eligible for this obesity counseling service. Code it as follows:
What is a CVD visit?
Also known as a CVD risk reduction visit , this service is essentially cardiovascular risk counseling. Considering heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States, you may not be surprised to learn that this service is often provided with the AWV. Code it as follows:
Differentiating IPPE, AWV, and Routine Physical Exam
IPPE : The IPPE, known as the ‘Welcome to Medicare’ preventive visit, promotes good health through disease prevention and detection. Medicare pays 1 patient IPPE per lifetime not later than the first 12 months after the patient’s Medicare Part B benefits eligibility date. Medicare pays the IPPE costs if the provider accepts assignment.
Advance Care Planning (ACP)
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is an optional AWV element. ACP is the face-to-face conversation between a Medicare physician (or other qualified health care professional) and a patient to discuss their health care wishes and medical treatment preferences if they become unable to speak or make decisions about their care.
How often do you get a wellness visit?
for longer than 12 months, you can get a yearly “Wellness” visit once every 12 months to develop or update a personalized prevention plan to help prevent disease and disability, based on your current health and risk factors.
Do you have to pay coinsurance for a Part B visit?
You pay nothing for this visit if your doctor or other qualified health care provider accepts Assignment. The Part B deductible doesn’t apply. However, you may have to pay coinsurance, and the Part B deductible may apply if: Your doctor or other health care provider performs additional tests or services during the same visit.
Does Medicare cover cognitive impairment?
If your provider thinks you may have cognitive impairment, Medicare covers a separate visit to do a more thorough review of your cognitive function and check for conditions like dementia, depression , anxiety, or delirium.
How long after Medicare Part B is a wellness visit?
You are eligible for one of these visits after 12 months of Medicare Part B coverage. It will only be covered if you have not had a Welcome to Medicare Visit or an Annual Medicare Wellness Visit within the past 12 months.
What to talk about during Medicare visit?
During the Welcome to Medicare Visit, your medical provider will review your medical history, including any medication conditions, past surgeries, and medications you take, both prescription and over the counter. Be sure to mention any vitamin supplements you use. Your family and social history will also be discussed, so be prepared to talk about your activity level, diet, and use of alcohol, tobacco, and/or illicit drugs.
What is ECG in Medicare?
During this visit, you are also granted a one-time free-of-charge electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart. Your medical provider will discuss the preventive services covered by Medicare ...
Does Medicare have to listen to heart?
Many people are surprised to learn their healthcare provider is not obligated to listen to their heart or lungs, never mind perform a clinical breast exam or a digital rectal exam to check for cancer, during their Annual Medicare Wellness Visit. Similar to the Welcome to Medicare Visit, this visit is free of charge as long as your Medicare provider ...
Does Medicare Wellness Visit include EKG?
The Annual Medicare Wellness Visit is similar to the Welcome to Medicare Visit except that it does not include a vision exam or an EKG. 2 It is also more stringent on the exam component.
Does Medicare cover physicals?
Medicare does not cover routine physical examinations. The Welcome to Medicare Visit and Annual Medicare Wellness Visits are focused on preventive screening and are not intended to replace routine follow-up visits or to address new health problems.
Can you have a follow up visit with Medicare?
Other Medicare Office Visits. It may be the case that you have chronic medical conditions that require frequent follow-up office visits during the year. However, these evaluations are not intended to be part of your Welcome to Medicare or Annual Medicare Wellness visits.
What is the documentation required for a Medicare wellness visit?
The documentation requirements for the initial Medicare annual wellness visit are as follows: Health risk assessment. The health risk assessment (HRA) must be completed by a beneficiary or healthcare provider before or during the annual wellness visit encounter. At a minimum, the HRA should include demographic data;
What measurements are needed for a wellness visit?
Measurements. Capture essential, routine measurements. These would include height, weight, body mass index/waist circumference, blood pressure, and any other measurements you determine to be appropriate based on the medical and family history noted earlier. Note: While the capturing of such measurements may make the Medicare annual wellness visit seem like an annual physical exam, the two services are quite different, as we discuss in this blog.
What is Medicare AWV?
In addition, the Medicare AWV is an opportunity for patients to meet with providers who can also deliver or schedule preventive services, such as vaccinations and cancer screenings.
What is health advice?
Health advice and referrals. Healthcare providers should document and share personalized health advice with beneficiaries. This would include referrals to health education and/or preventive counseling services and programs aimed at lifestyle interventions to promote wellness in areas such as weight loss, increased physical activity, smoking cessation, fall prevention, and improved nutrition.
How long does a provider have to produce a preventive screening plan?
Providers are expected to produce a written preventive screening and services plan for the beneficiary's next 5-10 years. This is an integral part of the personalized prevention plan of service (PPPS).
Why is meeting documentation requirements important for Medicare?
Meeting documentation requirements for the Medicare annual wellness visit is also critical for receiving reimbursement. If a provider fails to complete documentation requirements, it increases the likelihood of a claims denial, which will delay payment and grow the associated costs (e.g., staff time, reprinting of documentation) of billing for the service.
Does Medicare waive video?
Furthermore, in late April, Medicare waived the video requirements to permit telephone-only telehealth for many services , including the AWV. Physicians that choose to provide the AWV virtually, either via video or audio, must still complete all documentation requirements. To help ensure your patients receive the best Medicare annual wellness visit ...
