The WELL Seniors Act of 2023 expands Medicare's annual wellness visit program for seniors by requiring doctors to screen for additional health issues including balance problems, fall risks, food security, housing stability, transportation access, and social support. Starting January 1, 2024, Medicare will provide a 10 percent bonus payment to healthcare providers who include these expanded elements in wellness visits, and the bill also allows physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pharmacists to conduct these visits, not just physicians. The legislation enables seniors to receive annual wellness visits through telehealth and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to launch a national education campaign within one year to inform beneficiaries about the program, with priority outreach to low-income seniors and rural communities. The bill also requires research and evaluation of wellness visit usage patterns across different demographic groups and authorizes funding through 2028 for education, outreach, and research activities to increase program participation and effectiveness.
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