Medicare Annual Wellness Visits: A Comprehensive Discussion for Physician Leaders and Executives

Abstract

Fifteen years after the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), initiatives like Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) aim to enhance health outcomes by emphasizing preventive care, identifying risk factors, and promoting personalized prevention strategies. AWV completion rates remain below 30%, limiting its overall impact; still, studies show that AWVs contribute to improved care utilization, chronic disease management, and better patient outcomes. For physician leaders and healthcare executives, optimizing AWV implementation can enhance patient care and organizational performance. Provider education, workflow integration, patient engagement, and team-based care can improve AWV completion rates. Ensuring proper documentation is essential for reimbursement. By strategically leveraging the AWV, healthcare organizations can improve patient participation and clinical outcomes while reducing costs and strengthening financial sustainability. Physician leaders play a critical role in fostering adoption and maximizing the benefits of this under utilized yet impactful initiative.