The WELL Seniors Act of 2025 would change Medicare annual wellness visits starting January 1, 2026. It adds screening for balance and fall risk, and expands the topics addressed to include mobility, food and housing security, transportation access, and social support. It would allow physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pharmacists to provide these visits. Visits that include the expanded health and social needs element and at least two other listed elements would qualify for an additional payment equal to 10% of the usual payment. The act also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct outreach, issue follow-up guidance, and study use of the visits. The bill was introduced and referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
Medicare beneficiaries could receive annual wellness visits by telehealth and could discuss more health and social needs during a visit. The bill directs outreach about the visits, with possible priority for low-income beneficiaries and people in rural areas or health professional shortage areas. The text does not specify how individual beneficiaries’ access to visits would change.
The bill authorizes funds for outreach and research for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, but does not specify an amount. It also provides a 10% additional payment for qualifying annual wellness visits.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.