Awareness and Perceptions of Medicare Annual Wellness Visits Among Older Adults in Arkansas

Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) are yearly appointments with a PCP aimed at preventing disease or disability, based on current health and risk factors. Despite the benefits of AWVs, utilization remains low, particularly in rural states like Arkansas. This study aims to better understand the low utilization by exploring the awareness and perception of AWVs among older Arkansans. The research team conducted 9 focus groups with 96 Medicare-enrolled Arkansans. The researchers utilized an inductive thematic coding process with multiple coders for analyzing the focus group transcripts. Results suggest that Arkansans were largely unaware of AWVs. Participants saw the visits as repetitive and burdensome, did not understand their benefits, and did not understand how they differed from routine physicals. Encouragement from providers helped motivate utilization. Some specific aspects of AWVs were highlighted as useful and beneficial, such as the cognitive assessments. Still, some participants had fear, anxiety, or distrust related to the cognitive assessments. We recommend the utilization of these findings in designing messaging and awareness campaigns around AWVs and encouragement of provider promotion.