New Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) Benefit Explained  

Category: Coding

ecause preventive services are part and parcel to CMS's initiative to administer the Medicare program in a cost-effective manner, a new benefit called the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) was rolled out effective January 1, 2011. This improvement in Medicare coverage for preventive services, made possible through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, has the potential to yield some significant revenue to primary-care practitioners. The creation of this new benefit has raised several questions though. Let's look at a few of these frequently asked questions.

What is an AWV and what purpose does it serve? The AWV is a preventive physical exam which includes personal prevention plan services (PPPS). The AWV will include the establishment of (or update to) the individual's medical and family history, measurement of his or her height, weight, body-mass index or waist circumferenc...