Development and implementation of a pharmacist-delivered Medicare annual wellness visit at a family practice office

Abstract

Objective: To describe the development and implementation of a pharmacist-delivered Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (MWV).

Setting: Physician-owned, private family practice office.

Practice innovation: Pharmacist-delivered MWV.

Main outcome measures: Patient visits and practice income.

Results: Because of time constraints in the practice, physicians, nurse practitioners, and a physician assistant had been unable to offer MWVs, a new service available to Medicare beneficiaries under the Affordable Care Act. A pharmacist who was previously providing patient care services 1 day/week at a fixed hourly rate was able to add an additional 1 day/week for provision of MWVs. These visits involve updating medical and medication histories; measuring weight, mass, and blood pressure; assessing cognitive and physical function; and screening the patient and recommending preventive services. From September 2012 to February 2013, 174 patients participated in the pharmacist-delivered MWV. Pharmacist visits were billed using codes G0438 and G0439, and the practice realized a positive net income for the MWVs.

Conclusion: Pharmacist-delivered MWVs are financially viable and allow for greater pharmacist participation on the primary care team.