Focus on Health System Reform: Preventive Care Benefits Available to Medicare Patients in 2011

To follow the recent Focus article describing the new Annual Wellness Visit, this article will list some additional new preventive care services that are available to Medicare beneficiaries with no coinsurance requirements as of January 1, 2011.  Section 4104 of the PPACA expands Medicare coverage to cover at 100% those preventive services recommended (rated A or B) by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.  Beneficiaries are not required to first meet their annual Part B deductibles before receiving these services or before physicians are compensated for providing the care.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has given the following services an A or B rating:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening for men (age 65 to 75)
  • Alcohol misuse counseling
  • Aspirin to prevent CVD for men (age 45 to 79) and women (age 55 to 79)
  • Blood pressure screening
  • BRCA screening, counseling
  • Breast cancer preventive medication
  • Breast cancer screening mammography for women
  • Cervical cancer screening
  • Cholesterol abnormalities screening
  • Colorectal cancer screening
  • Depression screening
  • Diabetes screening
  • Folic acid supplementation
  • Healthy diet counseling
  • Osteoporosis screening for women
  • Sexually transmitted infection (STI) counseling and screenings
  • Tobacco use counseling and interventions

View the full list of recommended services here.

 
 

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