The required parts of the annual wellness visit include a FACE TO FACE visit which includes a PHSYCIAL EXAM, a review of their medical problems (already in PMH for your established patients, I hope), review of family health history (should be in AC), review of medications (again in AC and up to date, ideally), a review of docs they currently see (on form) and the elements on the form (ht, wt, BP, BMI, vision, depression screening, assessment of cognition) including the personalized primary prevention plan (the bulk of the form to include: immunizations, cancer screening, other screenings as warranted) a copy of which goes home with them - smoking cessation, and asking if they have an advanced directive (not a requirement to give them one or fill it out - only to ask). All this information is on medicare's website. (easier to find on medicare.gov than cms.gov). Covered preventative services are found at
http://www.medicare.gov/navigation/...ervices/preventive-service-overview.aspx ALSO, the "old" welcome to medicare exam required an EKG - the annual wellness visit makes no mention of an EKG. Adding a problem level visit on top of the G code for the exam should not reduce the reimbursement of your G code, but you may check with your medicare intermediary (we use Trailblazer in TX). As for coding - no need to take my word for it - I'm just a lost doctor working my butt off and stumbling through insurance red tape and costly mistakes - just like the rest of you. But you can follow my lead and be just as lost, or scour the rest of the internet and read the electronic bulletins CMS puts out (which clog my email inbox). ACPE (American College of Physician Executives) puts out a nice summary that comes in the email daily and is a benefit to members (and if you own your own practice as I do - you may find it beneficial). Medscape also has some nice free resources that come in the e-mail and AAFP. I have not found any of my osteopathic societies to be nearly as helpful. But more on that in another venue....
I hope this helps. And good luck!
