,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bhcj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ag 7legislative day1 ,september #af71 #bjbe ,mr4 ,king introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,finance ,a ,,bill ,to amend title ,,xviii of the ,social ,security ,act to improve the annual wellness visit under the ,medicare program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,wellness and ,education for ,longer ,lives for ,seniors ,act of #bjbe or the ,,well ,seniors ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,improvements to the ,medicare annual wellness visit 7a7 ,additional elements 7#a7 ,in general ,section #ahfa7;hhh77#b7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7hhh77#b77 is amended-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,f71 by striking and nutrition and inserting nutrition1 mobility1 food security1 housing security1 transportation access1 social support1 and other social determinants of health as determined by the ,secretary2 7,b7 by moving subparagraphs 7,g7 and 7,h7 #b ems to the left2 7,c7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,i7 as subparagraph 7,j72 and 7,d7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,h7 the following new subparagraph3 7,i7 ,screening for balance to identify risk for falls and referral for treatment as appropriate4 4 7#b7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by paragraph 7#a7 shall apply to items and services furnished on or after ,january #a1 #bjbf4 7b7 ,incentive payments ,section #ahcc of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciel7 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7ee7 ,incentive payments for annual wellness visits that include certain elements 7#a7 ,in general ,in the case of personalized prevention plan services 7as defined in paragraph 7#a7 of section #ahfa7;hhh77 that are furnished on or after ,january #a1 #bjbf1 and that include the element described in subparagraph 7,f7 of paragraph 7#b7 of such section #ahfa7;hhh7 and at least #b additional elements described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,e7 and 7,g7 through 7,j7 of such paragraph 7#b71 in addition to the amount of payment that would otherwise be made for such personalized prevention plan services under this part1 there also shall be paid an amount equal to #aj percent of the payment amount for the service under this part4 7#b7 ,coordination with other payments ,the amount of the additional payment for a service under this subsection and subsection 7m7 shall be determined without regard to any additional payment for the service under subsection 7m7 and this subsection1 respectively4 ,the amount of the additional payment for a service under this subsection and subsection 7z7 shall be determined without regard to any additional payment for the service under subsection 7z7 and this subsection1 respectively4 4 7c7 ,education and outreach 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7in this section referred to as the ,secretary7 shall conduct education and outreach activities regarding the coverage of annual wellness visits under the ,medicare program1 including changes to such visits under the amendments made by subsections 7a7 and 7b74 7#b7 ,national outreach campaign ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall conduct a national outreach campaign to educate beneficiaries on the annual wellness visit under the ,medicare program4 ,in conducting such outreach campaign1 the ,secretary may prioritize education and outreach to low-income beneficiaries1 non-physician providers1 and to providers working and beneficiaries living in rural areas or health professional shortage areas4 7#c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection4 7d7 ,inclusion as telehealth service ,section #ahcd7m77#d77;,f77i7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciem7m77#d77;,f77i77 is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence3 ,such term includes1 with respect to telehealth services furnished on or after ,january #a1 #bjbf1 an annual wellness visit 7as defined in section #ahfa7;hhh774 7e7 ,provider eligibility 7#a7 ,in general ,section #ahfa7;hhh77#c7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7hhh77#c77 is amended3 7,a7 by striking or at the end of subparagraph 7,b72 7,b7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,c7 as subparagraph 7,d72 and 7,c7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,b7 the following new subparagraph3 7,c7 a physical therapist1 an occupational therapist1 or a pharmacist2 or 4 7#b7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by paragraph 7#a7 shall apply to items and services furnished on or after ,january #a1 #bjbf4 7f7 ,guidance revision ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall issue guidance amending section #daj4ae of title #db1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation71 to include guidance on processes1 oversight1 and standards for the post-visit follow-up to ensure consistency and compliance with the ,health ,risk ,assessment1 personalized prevention plan1 and referrals4 7g7 ,research and evaluation 7#a7 ,report 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,centers for ,medicare ,medicaid ,services 7in this subsection referred to as the ,administrator71 shall analyze and publish a report on the prevalence in use of the annual wellness visit 7as defined in section #ahfa7;hhh7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7hhh777 by ,medicare beneficiaries1 including current practices and recommendations for increasing the use and effectiveness of the annual wellness visit under the ,medicare program under title ,,xviii of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acie et seq474 ,such report shall include-- 7i7 information regarding the interviews conducted under subparagraph 7,b72 7ii7 data on the prevalence of annual wellness visits furnished to ,medicare beneficiaries via telehealth during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency2 and 7iii7 utilization and claims data for annual wellness visits over the preceding #aj years broken down by ,state1 demographic groups 7including age1 race1 ethnicity1 income1 and education71 the type of provider furnishing the annual wellness visit1 and whether the beneficiary is enrolled for benefits under the original ,medicare-fee-for-service program under parts ,a and ,b of title ,,xviii of the ,social ,security ,act or the ,medicare ,advantage program under part ,c of title ,,xviii of the ,social ,security ,act4 7,b7 ,interviews with stakeholders ,the ,administrator shall conduct interviews with stakeholders1 including provider groups1 on their concerns regarding billing for and using the annual wellness visit under the ,medicare program1 including whether and to what extent personalized prevention plan services and appropriate referrals and follow-up are taking place for beneficiaries who are at particular risk and which referral models are most effective4 7#b7 ,focus group study ,not later than #f months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator1 shall conduct a focus group study among providers1 community-based organizations1 and beneficiaries towards increasing use of the annual wellness visit by ,medicare beneficiaries4 ,the ,secretary shall work with beneficiary and stakeholder groups to develop the interview questions for such focus group study1 and shall include questions on-- 7,a7 improving referrals to community services2 7,b7 barriers to utilization and recommendations to increase uptake2 and 7,c7 the types of providers in practices that furnish the visits4 7#c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection4