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Schedule wellness visits with your Medicare Advantage patients
September 4, 2024

This article is for providers and office staff who care for our Medicare Advantage members

Summertime is the perfect time to schedule your Medicare Advantage patients for their annual well visits. An annual well visit helps patients share their concerns with you and lower their risk of developing disease complications.

Since spending time with your patient during an annual well visit can increase patient experience and impact quality outcomes, we recommend that you:


 Outreach to your Medicare Advantage patients who have not completed a wellness visit and encourage them to get one scheduled with any primary care provider at your practice.

Remind Blue Cross members that we offer a $25 award for completing their annual well visit. This award is loaded onto their Flex Card.
 

Consider offering telehealth visits where possible, to increase convenience for your patients. Note that Blue Cross covers both the Medicare annual wellness visit and a routine physical exam for your patients every 12 months.

During the visit, talk to your patient about:
  • Having important preventive screenings such as screening for colorectal cancer, and at-home testing options when appropriate.
  • Reducing the risk of falls and monitoring physical activity.
  • Improving bladder control.
  • Filling 90-day pharmacy prescriptions by mail order to enhance medication adherence.
  • Calling your office first, instead of going to the urgent care or emergency room for minor illnesses (See Emergency Room Alternatives).
  • Scheduling follow-up care after a hospitalization or emergency room visit. Patients need an appointment within 3-5 days of discharge.

You may want to review this annual wellness visit checklist with your patient. We’ll also send it out in our summer Healthy Times newsletter.

Continue to be sensitive and aware of your patient’s background so that you can address any cultural beliefs or barriers that may prevent them from getting the care they need.

You can learn more about additional support programs that are available to your patient by visiting our Member Support & Assistance Programs page.

Thank you for all the care you provide to your patients—our members.

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