Medical Economics May 6, 2022
There are more differences than you might think.
While both types of the annual physical and an Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) have prevention in mind, there are many differences between them.
An annual physical is a more extensive exam than a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. A typical annual physical is a “hands-on” type of visit, including a physical exam and any blood work or lab tests that may be part of the exam or necessary for the patient’s chronic stable problems.
Alternatively, the AWV is a “hands-off” risk assessment.The purpose of the AWV is to identify gaps in care, improve the quality of care that a provider delivers, and help paint a picture of a patient’s current state of health...