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Welcome to Medicare Physical Examination

Article Abstract

The Welcome to Medicare Physical, also called the Initial Preventive Physical Examination, is available to all new Medicare beneficiaries. Through 2008, anyone new to Medicare had to have this physical exam within 6 months of enrolling in Medicare Part B. Now, thanks to a provision in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, the time frame in which people newly enrolled in Medicare Part B may get this exam is extended to 12 months of initial Part B enrollment.

In This Article:

What's Included in a Welcome to Medicare physical

 

The ABCs of the Initial Preventive Physical Examination is a quick-reference guide for health care providers on the components of the Welcome to Medicare physical. It provides a flow chart, with explanations, of all components of the examination, offers suggestions as to what information and which documents a new Medicare beneficiary should bring along to the examination appointment, provides applicable billing codes and links to additional resources on the Initial Preventive Physical Examination. You can learn a lot from this chart.  Easy-to-understand information for your clients about the Welcome to Medicare Physical in MyMedicareMatters here.

Do you use the Welcome to Medicare Physical in your outreach and education activities?  Why, or why not include this in your outreach? Discuss it with your colleagues.

Discuss It

 

Who's Eligible for a Welcome to Medicare Physical

 

Anyone who has joined Medicare Part B within the past 12 months is entitled to receive a Welcome to Medicare Physical. When your clients receive their Welcome to Medicare Physical they will be charged the Part B deductible - $135 in 2009 - if they have not already satisfied the deductible, plus the usual 20 percent Medicare Part B coinsurance. Your clients who enrolled in Meduicare Part B during 2008 may still be eligible to get a Welcome to Medicare Physical in 2009, as long as they receive their exam within 12 months of the first month of their Medicare Part B enrollment.

 

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Why the Welcome to Medicare Physical is Unique

 

Medicare does not generally cover periodic physical examinations.  The Welcome to Medicare physical is currently the only Medicare coverage is available for a physical exam, even in the absence of a diagnosed condition that requires scheduled follow-up clinical appointments. Moreover, the Welcome to Medicare physical is the gateway for many new Part B enrolleees to the many preventive, screening and health maintenance services now covered by Medicare.  A component of the Welcome to Medicare Physicakl is counseling on risk factors such as obesity and smoking and provision of a checklist of screening exams and preventive services for which the patient is eligible. 

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