Nearly $25 million paid for wellness visits in first 8 weeks of 2011

Why This Topic Matters

Providers and billing staff need to understand how a newly implemented Medicare preventive service is performing, which settings are affected by claim processing delays, and how those administrative details may influence revenue and claims management.

Article Sections

1. Medicare annual wellness visit uptake and payments

   Covers early participation figures, reported CMS payments, and the broader policy attention surrounding the new Medicare benefit.

2. Congressional and HHS remarks on preventive care

   Summarizes comments from federal officials discussing the program’s early reception and its place within broader prevention efforts.

3. Hospital claim processing delay for annual wellness visits

   Describes the temporary processing hold affecting certain hospital-based claims and the timing of updated claims handling.

4. Office setting claims and practice impact

   Notes that office-based services are not affected and discusses the limited operational impact on some physician practices.