As part of their benefits, patients with Medicare Advantage coverage are eligible to receive an initial preventive physical examination (IPPE), or “Welcome to Medicare” visit, and Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs).
Correct billing for these and all services ensures that providers are accurately reimbursed for the care they deliver, and that patients are accurately billed for the care they receive. It’s important to follow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rules for billing for these visits so that your patients don’t receive unexpected bills.
We’ve recently created some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about billing for IPPEs and AWVs and made them available under the Provider Training section of the Provider Resource Center. We encourage you to review them.
To review these FAQs, click the PROVIDER TRAINING tab at the left on the homepage, click the Provider Training link, and click the Billing the Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE) & Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) for Medicare Advantage Patients FAQs link under MEDICARE ADVANTAGE TRAINING AND DOCUMENTATION.
We also recommend that you review the CMS guidance around IPPEs and AWVs that’s also available at the following online resources:
