Medicare Check-ups Must Include Penicillin Allergy Verification.
This law requires Medicare to include penicillin allergy verification and evaluation during initial preventive physical exams and annual wellness visits for seniors. The goal is to improve patient safety and access to optimal antibiotics, as studies show over 90% of self-reported penicillin allergies are incorrect. These changes take effect on January 1, 2025.
Key points
Starting January 1, 2025, Medicare annual wellness visits will routinely check if a reported penicillin allergy is genuine.
This change helps seniors avoid less effective or more expensive alternative antibiotics, potentially leading to better health outcomes and shorter hospital stays.
The verification process involves reviewing the reaction history, providing information on the impact of the allergy label, and offering referrals to allergy specialists when necessary.
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