Annual Wellness Visit
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Commonwealth Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine & Primary Care Practice located in Fredericksburg, VA
An annual wellness visit is a checkup focused on preventing illness, and if you’re eligible, it’s fully covered by Medicare. The dedicated team of medical professionals at Commonwealth Internal Medicine in Fredericksburg, Virginia, carry out many annual wellness visits every year and recommend beneficiaries take advantage of this service. Call Commonwealth Internal Medicine today to schedule your annual wellness visit.
Annual Wellness Visit Q & A
What is an annual wellness visit?
An annual wellness visit is a health checkup that takes place once a year as part of a preventive care program. The annual wellness visit is an opportunity for you and your provider at Commonwealth Internal Medicine to review your general well-being and look at ways of preventing problems with your health.
There are two types of annual wellness visits. During your first visit, you undergo an initial preventive physical examination (IPPE). At subsequent wellness visits, you review your customized prevention plan with your provider and make any updates.
Providing you are eligible, your IPPE and annual wellness visits are covered by Medicare.
What happens at an IPPE?
The first part of the IPPE process is to fill in a health risk assessment (HRA). You and your provider at Commonwealth Internal Medicine need to go over your current health status and look at whether you need help with daily living activities.
They may ask if you need assistance with:
- Dressing
- Bathing
- Walking
- Shopping
- Housekeeping
- Medication management
- Finances
The HRA records your family history and personal medical history, highlighting any genetic conditions, previous illnesses or surgeries, and any behavioral or psychological issues. Your provider needs to know about any allergies you have, any medications you take, and any supplements or complementary therapies you use.
Your provider then measures your:
- Height
- Weight
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Blood pressure
They also assess your mental health and cognitive function. They might also run certain tests when appropriate, but only those that are on the Medicare-approved list.
At the end of your IPPE, you and your provider draw up a health plan that gives you information on how best to prevent health problems in the future. They might advise you to have certain screening tests or immunizations, or undergo specialist treatment where needed. Sometimes your provider might recommend educational or counseling services to help you improve your health.
What happens at my next annual wellness visit?
You can have one annual wellness visit within a 12-month period. At each visit following your IPPE, you and your provider at Commonwealth Internal Medicine go over your HRA and update it with any new information.
Your provider checks your weight and blood pressure and reviews your cognitive and psychological functions. They then update your personal health plan to reflect how things might have changed in the last year.
If you’re a Medicare beneficiary and would like to schedule an annual wellness visit, call Commonwealth Internal Medicine today.
