Medicare Blog

how to check eligibility of an advantage medicare patient for annual wellness visits

by Theron Walker Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Then, you can look up eligibility information by entering the following information: MBI First and last name Date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY) Contact your MAC for information on how to use the IVR. HETS You can access 4 years of eligibility data in HETS in real-time, anytime. You must have the following information to check eligibility:

Full Answer

What is the Medicare Advantage annual wellness visit program?

2020-2021 Medicare Advantage Annual Wellness Visit Guide How do Annual Wellness Visits benefit patients and providers? Wellness visits provide opportunities to screen for new problems and manage chronic ones. Depending on your contract, completion of a wellness visit may result in an incentive payment.

How often do I get Medicare wellness visits?

If you’ve had Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) for longer than 12 months, you can get a yearly “Wellness” visit once every 12 months to develop or update a personalized prevention plan. Your provider may also perform a cognitive impairment assessment.

Does Medicare cover an annual wellness visit (AWV)?

At subsequent AWVs, your doctor should: If you qualify, Original Medicare covers the Annual Wellness Visit 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 ).

What is the purpose of the Medicare annual wellness exam?

Taking advantage of this important benefit can help beneficiaries take proactive steps to stay healthy. If you have Medicare Part B insurance, you may have heard about the Medicare annual wellness exam, which is a free benefit. However, you may still have questions about the purpose of the exam and how it can help you.

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Do Medicare Advantage plans cover annual wellness visits?

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your plan will cover your Annual Wellness Visit, as long as you visit a health care provider who is in your plan network. Coinsurance and deductible costs can vary based on your plan.

What is the criteria for Medicare wellness exam?

At a minimum, the HRA should include demographic data; self-assessment of health status; psychosocial risks; behavioral risks; activities of daily living (ADLs), including dressing, bathing, and walking; and instrumental ADLs (IADLs), including shopping, housekeeping, managing medications, and handling finances.

Who can perform the annual wellness visit Awv?

Our AWV platform allows everyone from the MD with 30 years of experience to an MA — and anyone else along a patient's continuum of care who may be providing and performing this service — to complete AWV requirements with consistent quality of care and documentation in a streamlined, cost-effective manner.

Is Medicare AWV required?

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is highly recommended, but it is not mandatory. You are eligible for the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) once you've had Medicare Part B for 12 months. During your first 12 months as a Medicare beneficiary, you are highly encouraged to schedule your Welcome to Medicare preventive visit.

What documentation is needed for an annual wellness visit?

History: The patient's past medical, surgical and family history, including medications and supplements, and current providers. Assessment: The patient's height, BMI (initial AWV only), weight, blood pressure and other measures deemed appropriate based on the patient's family and medical history.

What is the difference between an annual physical and a wellness exam?

An annual physical exam is more extensive than an AWV. It involves a physical exam by a doctor and includes bloodwork and other tests. The annual wellness visit will just include checking routine measurements such as height, weight, and blood pressure.

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.

What is the difference between Ippe and Awv?

A: The IPPE is a 1-time visit that occurs within the first 12 months of a patient's enrollment in Medicare Part B. The AWV can take place every 12 months, either 12 months after the IPPE or after more than 12 months of enrollment.

What is the difference between G0438 and G0439?

As a reminder, there are two codes related to the AWV: G0438 (includes a personalized prevention plan of service, initial visit) and G0439 ( includes a personalized prevention plan of service, subsequent visit).

Can you bill G0439 to Medicare Advantage plans?

Q - If a patient has a managed Medicare plan (non-traditional Medicare), can I still bill a G code (G0402, G0438, or G0439) for a wellness visit? A - Yes. Traditional Medicare and all managed Medicare plans will accept the G codes for AWVs.

Does Medicare Advantage plans cover preventive care?

Does Every Medicare Advantage Plan Cover Preventive Services? Yes, preventative services are covered under Medicare, regardless of whether the enrollee has Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage. Because of the Affordable Care Act, many preventive services are provided to Medicare beneficiaries with no cost-sharing.

Does Medicare call for wellness checks?

Upon enrolling in Medicare, everyone is entitled to a “Welcome to Medicare” visit, during which an initial preventive care plan will be written. The ensuing Annual Wellness Visit appointments are meant to update your existing preventive care plan and make any necessary changes.

What is a wellness visit?

The term “wellness visit” refers to an annual appointment with your primary care physician to discuss your current state of health and address any medical concerns you may have. Wellness visits may also be used to set up testing for ongoing or worsening symptoms as well as to make changes to medications or lifestyle.

What is Medicare Part B?

Medicare Part B provides an outpatient benefit and includes many preventive services, including a “Welcome to Medicare” visit when you are first eligible, and after 12 months, an annual “Wellness Visit.”.

Does Medicare Part C have to be approved by the insurance company?

These plans are provided by private insurers, and the Medicare Part C provider must be approved by Medicare. The insurer must also adhere to the guidelines set out by the program on a federal level; however, coverage can vary by state, provider and plan.

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.

What is an IPPE in Medicare?

Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE) The IPPE, known as the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit, promotes good health through disease prevention and detection. Medicare pays for 1 patient IPPE per lifetime not later than the first 12 months after the patient’s Medicare Part B benefits eligibility date.

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.

What is routine physical exam?

Routine Physical Exam. Exam performed without relationship to treatment or diagnosis for a specific illness, symptom, complaint, or injury. ✘ Not covered by Medicare; prohibited by statute, however, the IPPE, AWV, or other Medicare benefits cover some elements of a routine physical. ✘ Patient pays 100% out-of-pocket.

What is advance care planning?

Advance care planning including the explanation and discussion of advance directives such as standard forms (with completion of such forms, when performed), by the physician or other qualified health care professional; each additional 30 minutes (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) Diagnosis.

What is advance directive?

“Advance directive” is a general term referring to various documents such as a living will, instruction directive, health care proxy, psychiatric advance directive, or health care power of attorney.

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.

What exactly is an Annual Wellness Visit?

There is often confusion with the term “annual wellness visit” and its similarities to an annual physical exam. An annual wellness visit is known as an AWV. On the other hand, an annual physical exam can be referred to as several colloquial names such as physical examination, wellness exam, yearly physical, yearly checkup, or routine physical.

How can you ensure eligibility?

So how can practices easily identify eligible beneficiaries without risking errors? It’s all about the technology. If your team has ever completed an entire Annual Wellness Visit and billed for it just to find out that the patient was ineligible, you can understand why it is crucial to have real-time eligibility data.

What is Medicare annual wellness exam?

The Medicare annual wellness exam is a free health benefit that includes a personalized prevention plan. Taking advantage of this important benefit can help beneficiaries take proactive steps to stay healthy.

What is the purpose of a Medicare wellness exam?

The purpose of the Medicare annual wellness exam is to develop or update your personalized prevention plan and perform a health risk assessment.

Why do we do wellness exams?

That’s because the wellness exam gives you an opportunity to get personalized health advice. You can talk about any healthcare concerns you may have, ask questions about your medications, talk about changes to your diet or exercise routine and more.

Is the annual wellness exam covered by Medicare?

However, you may still have questions about the purpose of the exam and how it can help you. For instance, it’s important to know that the annual wellness exam is covered in full by Medicare, but it’s not the same as a routine physical exam, which isn’t covered by Medicare. This article answers some of the most common questions about ...

What is Medicare annual wellness visit?

What is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit? When you attend Medicare annual wellness visit, your physician will have you complete a “Health Risk Assessment”. This is a fancy term for a health questionnaire.

How often is a wellness visit required for Medicare?

This is only once, within your first 12 months of Part B. As discussed above, the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is an exam that you receive if you’ve been a Medicare recipient for more than 12 months, and this appointment is once per year. The Annual Wellness Visit is a health evaluation, rather than a physical examination.

What is physical exam?

A physical exam can include some of the components of the wellness visit (vitals check, neurological assessment), but not all. These appointments may include abdominal assessments, head and neck exams, lung exams, heart assessments, etc. AWVs are great for Advance Care Planning and Directives, checking one’s level of safety and cognitive function, ...

How long do you have to carry Medicare Part B?

Your annual visit coverage is under your Medicare Part B. You should be aware that you must carry Part B for more than 12 months to qualify for this visit.

Does Part B depend on wellness?

No, your Part B doesn’t depend on you attending your Annual Wellness Visit. Although the visit is a free preventive visit that you should go to, it’ll help you stay on track to living a healthy lifestyle.

Can you get an annual wellness visit with Medicare?

The Annual Wellness Visit is a health evaluation, rather than a physical examination. Furthermore, you can’t receive an AWV during the same calendar year as your Welcome to Medicare preventative visit.

What is included in a PCP wellness visit?

This may include a questionnaire that you complete before or during the visit.

Does Medicare require a cognitive test?

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. Screen for depression.

Does Medicare require a PCP to screen you?

Your PCP should keep in mind your health status, screening history, and eligibility for age-appropriate, Medicare-covered preventive services. Medicare does not require that doctors use a test to screen you.

Does Medicare cover wellness visits?

If you qualify, Original Medicare covers the Annual Wellness Visit 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 ).

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