Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Expansion: Focus on Falls, Social Needs, and Telehealth Access.
This bill expands the scope of the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) to include mandatory balance screening for fall prevention and assessment of key social determinants of health, such as food and housing security. The changes aim to provide seniors with more holistic care and increase access by allowing these visits to be conducted via telehealth. Furthermore, eligibility to perform these check-ups is expanded to include physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pharmacists.
Key points
Medicare annual check-ups will now include screening for social needs (food security, housing, transportation access, and social support).
Mandatory balance screening is added to identify and address the risk of falls among seniors, ensuring appropriate referrals for treatment.
The visits can be conducted via telehealth, and eligibility to perform them is expanded to include physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pharmacists, potentially increasing service availability.
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