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Medicare Part B covers preventative services and outpatient screenings

What Preventive and Screening Services Does Part B Cover?

Medicare Part B features preventive services. These differ in how often you can get them and what you need to get them. Your doctor may give referrals or suggest other treatments based on results.

Medicare Part B: Screenings

Here are the screening services with important information and how often you can get them:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm – Needs referral; only once
  • Alcohol misuse – If you consume alcohol; once every year
  • Barium Enemas (for Colorectal Cancer) – Be at least 50 years old; once every 48 months (24 months if high risk)
  • Bone mass – If at risk for osteoporosis; once every 24 months (more often in serious cases)
  • Cardiovascular disease – Once every five years
  • Cervical and vaginal cancer – Once per 24 months (once every 12 months if high risk)
  • Colonoscopies (Colorectal Cancer)- No specific requirements; 120 months if low risk (24 months if high risk)
  • Depression – No specific requirements; once a year
  • Diabetes – Have to be at risk; up to twice per year
  • Fecal Occult Blood Tests (Colorectal Cancer) – Needs referral; once every 12 months
  • Flexible Sigmoidoscopies (Colorectal Cancer) – Be at least 50 years old; once every 120 months (24 months if at high risk)
  • Glaucoma – Have to be at risk; once every 12 months
  • Hepatitis B and C – Once a year if at high risk
  • HIV – Have to be at risk; Once per year
  • Lung Cancer – Have doctor’s written order; Once per year
  • Mammograms – Once every 12 months
  • Multi-target stool DNA tests (Colorectal Cancer) – Low risk for colorectal disease, average risk for colorectal cancer; once every three years
  • Obesity – No frequency specified
  • Prostate – Once every 12 months
  • Sexually Transmitted Infection – Once every 12 months

Medicare Part B: Shots

Preventive services also help protect you from certain viruses and bacterial strains. This includes shots for:

  • COVID-19 – Once
  • Flu – Once per flu season
  • Hepatitis B – Have to be at risk; no specific number
  • Pneumococcal bacteria strains – Two different shots; second has to be at least 12 months after the first

Medicare Part B: Counseling

Preventive services also help patients develop healthy habits to prevent or manage their conditions. This also helps patients with mental health conditions. These are the types of counseling Medicare Part B covers:

  • Alcohol misuse – Four sessions per year
  • Cardiovascular behavioral therapy – Once per year
  • Diabetes Self Management Training – Two hours of follow-up training the year after 10 hours of training
  • Nutrition therapy – No limit
  • Obesity – Minimum BMI of 30; no limit
  • Sexually Transmitted Infections – Requires referral; two in-person sessions, 30 minutes each
  • Tobacco use – Eight times per 12 months

Get Started with Medicare

We’re here to help you reap all the benefits Medicare Part B has to offer. Medicare Part B isn’t just limited to preventive services – it saves you on anything related to outpatient treatments. When you sign up, we can help you arrange a free Welcome to Medicare visit, where a healthcare professional determines which preventive services you should get. Call Cornerstone Senior Advisors today at 316-260-3331 to get set up with the best Part B policy available to you.