Reassessing the Medicare annual wellness visit: A CMS imperative

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services introduced the annual wellness visit (AWV) in 2011 to encourage preventive care and provide better reimbursement to primary care practices. However, a decade later, the value of the AWV is being questioned. Evidence of cost savings and improved health outcomes is lacking, and the visit process often sidelines patient concerns. Primary care practices have found ways to accommodate more AWVs, but this can strain appointment access and resources. Instead, innovative approaches like proactive outreach through patient portals and text messaging may be more effective in achieving preventive care goals. Enhanced reimbursement for non-procedural visits and progressive payment models that reward preventive care achievements would better serve primary care practices.