About 1 million more Medicare part B beneficiaries used their free annual wellness visit in 2015 than in 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported.
Almost 5.9 million (18%) part B beneficiaries took advantage of an annual wellness visit in 2015, compared with nearly 4.8 million in 2014. Analysis of last year’s claims also showed that 73% of the nation’s 36 million part B enrollees took advantage of at least one free preventive service made available by the Affordable Care Act with no copays or deductibles.
“Medicare consumers are now more engaged and empowered in their own health thanks to the Affordable Care Act,” Andy Slavitt, CMS acting administrator, said in a statement. “Millions are now able to access more affordable prescription medicine for their chronic conditions and millions more are staying healthier by accessing preventive services, especially vital for people living with disabilities or growing older.”
Use of these services varied by state, however. Delaware had the highest use of any preventive service at 81%, while Alaska was lowest at 59%. Use of the wellness visit was highest in Rhode Island (32%) and lowest in Hawaii (6%), the CMS said.
Preventive services available for free include bone density measurement, colorectal and lung cancer screening, and influenza and hepatitis B vaccinations, according to Medicare.gov.
