Schedule Your Free Annual Wellness Visit

Did you know that as a Medicare beneficiary, you are entitled to a free annual wellness visit?  That’s right, a visit with your provider each year with no co-pay and no deductible!  This visit is specially designed to cover aspects of your care which are typically not covered during an office visit.  This is unique opportunity for us to focus on your emotional, psychosocial, cognitive, and functional status.  With the information obtained at this yearly appointment, we can identify potential health hazards which may exist, and get you the assistance or resources you may require. 

When you newly enroll in Medicare, you will be scheduled for a “Welcome to Medicare Visit.”  This visit takes place when you have had Medicare Part B for 12 months or less, and will include a physical exam.  Important information will be collected at this time, and will serve as your baseline assessment.

Every year after that, you will have your “Annual Wellness Visit.”  A physical exam is not done at this time, but all of the information collected in those prior annual visits is reviewed and updated.  And you need not worry about which exam you are due for and when, we will keep track of that for you and schedule you when you are due!

This visit is not intended to be like a usual check-up or sick visit.  It is designed more for discussion and important data gathering. 

During this time, we will be focusing on:

• Immunization Status
• Hearing and Vision Screening
• Screening Lab Work
• Diet and Exercise Recommendations
• Other Recommended Preventative Screenings and Assessments
• Blood Pressure Check
• Medication Review
• Fall Risk Assessment
• Advanced Care Planning
• A personalized plan of service, including education and referrals as needed for disease management

As you can see, this visit is all about preventative health, so if you have specific questions about medications or other health conditions, please ask your provider to schedule a separate appointment.  If the matter is urgent, then by all means, your provider will address the issue during the visit, and reschedule your wellness visit for another time.

Every aspect of your health and well-being is important to us, so help us to help you by scheduling your annual wellness visit.  By doing so, you will add years to your life, and life to your years!

Listen to Chief Medical Officer, Craig Burrows, MD talk about the importance of Medicare wellness visits on local radio station, KMMT here.

For more on Annual Wellness Visits or to schedule an appointment, call us at (760) 934-2551.