A new report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) found more than 5 million Americans with traditional Medicare took advantage of one or more recommended preventive benefits, now offered for free under health care reform.

Last summer, the Obama administration announced a number of preventive services would be available at no out-of-pocket cost for Americans in private plans, and that, beginning in January, Medicare beneficiaries would be able to receive for free all preventive services and screenings that receive an A or B recommendation for seniors from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

“The Obama Administration is committed to helping increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life,” said CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, M.D., in a statement. “Even in your 70s, 80s, or beyond you can reduce your risk of disability and chronic illness if you take care of yourself. With the new free Annual Wellness Visits and free preventive care, people with Medicare have the tools to take common-sense steps to take control of their health.”

According to the report, more than 5.5 million beneficiaries in traditional Medicare used one or more of the preventive benefits now covered without cost-sharing including, most prominently, mammograms, bone density screenings, and screenings for prostate cancer.

In 2011, Medicare began covering an Annual Wellness Visit at no cost to Medicare beneficiaries. As part of that visit, beneficiaries and their physicians can review the patient’s health and develop a personalized wellness plan. More than 780,000 beneficiaries received an Annual Wellness Visit between Jan. 1 and June 10, according to CMS.

Additionally, more seniors have used the Welcome to Medicare Exam this year. 66,302 beneficiaries had taken advantage of the benefit by the end of May 2011, compared to 52,654 beneficiaries at the same point in 2010 – a 26 percent increase.

Research from Families USA found older adults and people with disabilities often don't get the preventive and wellness care they need to stay healthy and lead productive lives. According to a March 2011 Fact Sheet from the nonprofit organization found about 17 percent of women over the age of 65 have not received a mammogram in the past two years, even though studies show that this screening reduces breast cancer deaths.

CMS reports a renewed push toward prevention is the latest step toward fulfillment of its "Three-Part Aim": Better care and better health at lower cost through improvement in health care.

Roughly 70 percent of Medicare beneficiaries had at least one chronic condition in 2008, while as many as 38 percent had between two and four chronic conditions, and 7 percent had five or more. They see an average of 14 different doctors and fill an average of 50 prescriptions or prescription refills a year. Preventing chronic disease among the Medicare population would not only improve their health and quality of life, it could help save an estimated two-thirds of the $2 trillion the U.S. spends treating preventable long-term illness today.

Instant Insights /

CMS: More people with Medicare receiving free preventive care

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