Part B covers certain preventive services, including annual wellness exams and screenings for cancers, diabetes and heart problems. Flu shots, bone mass measurements and smoking cessation counseling are also available. In addition, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) emphasizes prevention through a series of mandates aimed at improving care quality and efficiency.
Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) also cover preventive services. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiated a five-star rating program for Part C plans to ensure that they conform to the CMS’ quality standards, and to help guide beneficiaries toward higher-quality plans. Beginning in 2012, as part of the ACA, the CMS began awarding bonuses through the Quality Bonus Payment Demonstration to Part C plans based on their performance in the five-star rating program. One of the five scoring categories focuses exclusively on prevention through screenings, tests and vaccines.
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