The 2006 OIG workplan includes monitoring the Medicare G0344. Patients who were eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2005 are eligible for a new Medicare benefit, “Welcome to Medicare” screening physical visit. Beneficiaries have six months after they become Medicare-eligible to obtain this benefit. The visit is reimbursed by Medicare, but deductible and coinsurance does apply. CMS is monitoring physicians’ practices for rendering this service.

A screening EKG must be done at this visit. Except for this one-time covered physical, and the screening pelvic/breast exam that accompanies a woman’s Pap smear, Medicare does not cover other preventive, or “routine physical” type visits. Remember, G0344 is now included within the Primary Care Exception codes for residents!

The HCPCS/CPT code for the IPPE is G0344; EKG for IPPE is G03666; EKG tracing for IPPE is G0367; EKG Interpretation and Report is G0368.

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