Medicare Emphasizes Prevention and Wellness

Medicare has a new emphasis on prevention and wellness. And as of January 2011, Medicare beneficiaries no longer have to pay a deductible or copayment for many of these services.  At the center of the Personalized Prevention Plan Services program is the Annual Wellness Visit or AWV.

While the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recognizes the crucial role that doctors play in educating their patients about potentially life saving proactive services and screenings, awareness has been low, especially about Annual Wellness Visits.

One doctor in Woodbridge is about to change all that. Dr. Robert Boyd has been performing Annual Wellness Visits for his patients for over 6 months and has delivered this new and exciting service to community centers and senior living facilities in Middlesex County for over 3 months.

Dr. Boyd is using an on-line program that allows his staff to easily collect medical and family history; review diet and exercise regimen; vital signs and medications; and assess functional capacity, safety and cognitive ability. As a result of the wellness visit, Dr. Boyd identifies Risk Factors, develops a 5 Year Testing and Screening Plan and develop a Personalized Prevention Plan for his patients.

News about Annual Wellness Visits is a great way to build awareness as Mayors and Health Directors organize Wellness Days in their communities. For information about this Annual Wellness program and a schedule of events near you, visit Dr. Boyd’s Wellness website at www.drboydwellness.com or contact George Marmo at (973) 525-5048.