Our Services / Annual Wellness Visit

What is an annual wellness visit?

An annual wellness visit is an appointment you attend each year at Southern New Hampshire Internal Medicine to create or update your personalized health plan. 

This plan aims to prevent ill-health based on your age, risk factors, and other medical conditions. It could include advice and targets for healthier living, such as:

• Weight loss
• Increased physical activity
• Quitting smoking
• Reducing alcohol consumption
• Nutrition
• Stress management
• Preventing falls

Medicare Part B covers your annual wellness visit, providing you've had it for over 12 months, and you haven't been for an annual wellness visit in the previous 12 months. You're also not eligible for an annual wellness visit in the same year you have your Welcome to Medicare preventive visit.

What does the first annual wellness visit involve?

At your first annual wellness visit with the Southern New Hampshire Internal Medicine team, your provider does routine checks of your height, weight, and blood pressure and asks you about your medical and family history.

You need to complete a health risk assessment, including filling in a questionnaire that asks for details of your health status, behavioral and injury risks, and urgent health needs. Your provider reviews how well you're functioning, for example, screening for hearing problems and assessing your risk of falling.

They evaluate your ability to manage tasks such as bathing and dressing and how safe you are at home. They also look for signs of cognitive issues and mental health problems like dementia and depression.

You need to bring a list of your current health care providers, prescription medications, supplements, and durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers. After reviewing all the information, your provider creates a 5-10 year preventive health plan.

What happens at follow-up annual wellness visits?

At follow-up annual wellness visits, your provider performs routine checks of your weight, blood pressure, and cognitive ability. Together, you update your:

• Health risk assessment
• Medical and family history
• List of current medical providers
• List of current medications
• Screening schedule

Where necessary, your provider refers you for further services such as health education or preventive counseling.

During an annual wellness visit, your provider might find you need additional treatment for an existing condition, or you could have a new problem that requires diagnosis. Services like diagnostic imaging and treatments for specific disorders are typically liable for further billing rather than being part of your free annual wellness visit.

To find out more or arrange your annual wellness visit, call Southern New Hampshire Internal Medicine, or book an appointment online today.