Don’t Forget Medicare-covered Preventive Services
Physicians should talk to their Medicare patients about the value of prevention and early detection and encourage them to take advantage of the full range of preventive services and screenings that Medicare provides.
Medicare is finding that many patients aren't taking advantage of the full range of services for which they may be eligible.
You can help by:
- Talking with your patients about their risk for disease and the value of prevention and early detection, and encouraging utilization of appropriate Medicare-covered preventive services
- Performing or providing referrals for the appropriate preventive services
- Following up with patients on all screening results, even negative ones
- Providing information about appropriate lifestyle modifications that support a healthy lifestyle
Covered preventive services and screenings
Medicare provides coverage for the following preventive services and screenings (subject to certain eligibility and other limitations):
- Adult immunizations
- Bone mass measurements
- Breast (mammography)
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cervical and vaginal (Pap test and pelvic exam)
- Colorectal
- Diabetes and self-management training
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
- Influenza (flu)
- Initial preventive physical exam (IPPE) ("Welcome to Medicare” physical exam)
- Medical nutrition therapy supplies
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV)
- Prostate
- Smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling
Educational resources from CMS
- CMS has a 13-page informational and educational document for the most recently added preventive services, effective 2005, including the “Welcome to Medicare” exam. See MLN Matters article #SE0556 to download the 13-page PDF.
- See the Preventive Services Educational Products from the Medicare Learning Network for descriptions and ordering information for all provider specific educational products related to preventive services.
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Last Updated: 8/14/2008