The article “Medicare Annual Wellness Visits Made Easier” [July/August 2011] stated that a 5- to 10-year preventive service plan should be developed and provided to each Medicare patient as part of the annual wellness visit. In fact, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) does not require that such a plan be provided to the patient, only that it be developed. CMS does require that a screening plan or checklist be provided to the patient following the visit; however, no particular time frame is specified. The CMS requirements are featured in the FPM article “What You Need to Know About the Medicare Preventive Services Expansion” [January/February 2011].
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