Pharmacist-Led Annual Wellness Visits: A Review

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Health Services Research
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWV) are crucial for preventive care in older adults.
• Pharmacist involvement in AWV is an evolving area of practice with potential to enhance patient outcomes.
• Understanding the scope, impact, and financial implications of pharmacist-led AWV is essential for healthcare system optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize the findings of pharmacist involvement in Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWV).
• To analyze pharmacist interventions, patient and provider satisfaction, and financial/billing models associated with AWV.
• To assess the impact of pharmacist-led AWV on patient care and healthcare economics.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, etc.) from January 2011 to November 2018.
• Included were full-text, peer-reviewed articles in English detailing pharmacist roles in AWV.
• Data extraction focused on study design, interventions, outcomes (clinical, financial, satisfaction), and care models.

Main Results:

• Eleven studies met inclusion criteria, with most utilizing collaborative practice agreements for AWV.
• Pharmacist-led AWV demonstrated a significant number of medication-related interventions (54.54%).
• Studies reported positive financial outcomes, including return on investment and increased revenue, alongside high patient and physician satisfaction rates.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacists can successfully conduct Medicare Annual Wellness Visits in various outpatient settings.
• Pharmacist involvement in AWV positively impacts patient care and is associated with high satisfaction levels.
• The findings support the integration of pharmacists into AWV to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.