Elder Law FAX -- July 17, 2006

Medicare Provides Coverage for Many Preventive Services and Screenings
Many people on Medicare may not know that Medicare provides coverage for many diseases that are preventable through immunization or amendable through early detection, treatment, and lifestyle changes. What are some of these services that people on Medicare need to know about?

Medicare provides coverage for the following preventive services and screenings (subject to certain eligibility and other limitations):

Adult Immunizations
* Influenza (Flu)
* Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPV)
* Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Bone Mass Measurements
Cancer Screenings
* Breast (Mammography)
* Cervical & Vaginal (Pap Test & Pelvic Exam)
* Colorectal
* Prostate
Cardiovascular Disease Screening
Diabetes Screening, and
* Self-Management Training
* Medical Nutrition Therapy
* Supplies
Glaucoma Screening
Initial Preventive Physical Exam (IPPE)
Smoking and Tobacco-Use Cessation Counseling Services

Each of these benefits presents an opportunity for people on Medicare and the health care professionals who care for them to help Medicare beneficiaries learn if they have an increased risk of developing certain diseases.

Medicare's Preventive Services Outreach
While the number of Medicare-covered preventive services is higher than ever, the federal government has found that many beneficiaries are not taking advantage of the full range of services for which they may be eligible. Some of the reasons for this under-utilization include beneficiaries:

* Not knowing that these services are covered by Medicare;
* Being afraid to talk with their physician or not knowing how or what questions to ask;
* Not understanding the value of prevention, early detection and treatment;
* Fearing the pain that may occur during the preventive service procedure; or
* Fearing the results of the preventive service procedure.

In addition, there may be physical and social barriers that prevent Medicare beneficiaries from obtaining preventive services.

As a part of it outreach and education program, the U. S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the agency in the federal government that administers the Medicare program, regularly makes information available about the many preventive services and screenings covered by Medicare. For instance, CMS regularly sends notices to physicians encouraging them to educate their patients on the preventive services Medicare offers.

CMS has created individual Web pages for each of the preventive services and screenings covered by Medicare. For additional information visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicare.asp and scroll down to the Prevention section or go to http://www.medicare.gov/ and click on "Preventive Services."

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