AMA just did its members a favor with Wellness Visit brochures that should dispel some of the confusion about what gets covered.
The Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is free to Medicare patients, but covers a very specific range of medical issues. Patients who confuse it with previous general-physical-type procedures, such as the Welcome to Medicare exam, or physicals covered by private payers may get frustrated -- especially if they get a bill they weren't expecting.
The simple brochure, provided in both English and Spanish, delineates the covered Wellness Exam areas, and also the other preventive services Medicare patients can get for free.
Patients are also given questions to ask and materials to bring to the office, so that they can get the most out of the AWV.
You can download PDF versions or order copies in bulk from the AMA. It might not be a bad thing to have around -- or to send to Medicare patients when they schedule their AWV.