Caution overlappiong Welcome to Medicare and Annual Medicare Physicals, et al during 12 month time periods

[Guest guest]

As a side issue to your questions below...I believe we have to be careful about when a patient comes in for a Welcome to Medicare Physical (must be within 1st year of enrollment) and the 2nd Annual Physical.

 

My understanding is that Medicare only covers the physicals every 12 months.=========================================================== 

Annual Wellness Exam

How often is it covered?

After you’ve had Part B for longer than 12 months, you can get a yearly wellness exam to develop or update a prevention plan just for you, based on your current health and risk factors. This exam is covered once every 12 months.

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So if the patient joins Medicare in January 2011, but doesn't get the Welcome Exam until December  = you have to wait until December of 2012 to do the next exam.

 

It's not based on the Year done, but literally on the time from the previous physical.

 

So docs would need to look back and see when the last physical was done - and if the patient is new to your practice, they may not be eligible for the physical until later - after the 12 months have passed from their previous physical exam.

 

Just adding more complexity.

 

Locke, MD