Exploring The Role Of Preventative Care In Medicare And Medical Clinics
Sep 01, 2023
Preventative care approaches healthcare by focusing on stopping illnesses and diseases before they start. It’s especially important for those on Medicare who may already have multiple health conditions and face high healthcare costs. Fortunately, medical clinics like HealthCore Clinic in Wichita, KS are here to help! By providing preventative services, clinics can help patients manage their conditions and improve their health outcomes.
This article dives into the role preventative care plays in Medicare and medical clinics, the wide variety of Medicare benefits, the ways to make preventative care services more easily available, and how increased access to these services can help reduce health disparities.
Facts About Medicare for Kansas
Medicare Facts
Medicare is a federal program that offers health insurance to individuals aged 65 and above, as well as those with certain disabilities and end-stage renal disease. Some of the preventative care services covered under Medicare include hospital visits, doctor appointments, screenings, immunizations, and wellness visits. With a Medicare Advantage Plan there are additional Medicare benefits covered such as dental, hearing, and prescription drug coverage. All of these Medicare benefits can help with the early detection of health issues, reduce the risk of chronic conditions, and better the overall outcomes of a city’s population health.
Medical clinics, as one of the healthcare delivery systems, use evidence-based practice to provide primary care services to patients. They serve as the initial point of contact for individuals seeking medical attention, offering a wide range of services that include disease prevention, health education, chronic disease management, and screenings. The preventative care services provided by these clinics have significant benefits for patients, assisting in the management of chronic conditions and disease prevention. Overall, medical clinics are a necessary part of the health system.
Annual Wellness & Preventative Medicare Visits
Preventative Care in Medicare
Preventive care services provided under Medicare are essential for the health and well-being of beneficiaries. Some of the Medicare benefits include a variety of preventative measure services, like annual wellness visits, mammograms, and screenings for diabetes, colorectal cancer, and hypertension. The ultimate goal of these preventative services is disease prevention, to detect and treat illnesses at an early stage, and boost overall health outcomes.
One of the Medicare benefits covered by Medicare is an annual wellness visit. This is a personalized prevention plan that includes patient education, screening tests, and immunizations. The added advantage of these visits is the opportunity beneficiaries get to discuss any health concerns with their healthcare providers. This results in early detection of potential health issues and can significantly prevent the onset of chronic diseases.
Mammograms, which are also covered under Medicare as a preventative care service, are an integral part of women’s health. While women aged 50 to 74 are the primary demographic recommended for these cancer screenings, some individuals may need to initiate the process much earlier or receive more frequent exams. Early detection through mammograms can increase the likelihood of successful treatment and recovery for individuals facing breast cancer.
As part of comprehensive care, Medicare covers screenings for colorectal cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. These tests are specifically designed to identify diseases in their early stages, which can prevent chronic conditions from developing. Early detection of these illnesses can also minimize healthcare expenses and improve the overall health of beneficiaries. Taking advantage of these screenings is crucial for health maintenance and to avoid costly treatments in the future.
As the population continues to age, the overall population health has declined, and healthcare costs have steadily increased, particularly for chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Preventative care has been shown to be a cost-effective approach to addressing this issue. Furthering health services research, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlights that by increasing preventative care services for Medicare beneficiaries, the healthcare industry could save up to $1.5 billion annually. Early detection of illnesses through preventative care can prevent the need for costly treatments and hospitalizations, resulting in significant savings for Medicare beneficiaries and the health system as a whole.
Medicare Clinics With Preventative Care Approaches
Preventative Care in Medical Clinics
As a fundamental component of healthcare, medical clinics provide necessary preventive care services to patients, which helps in managing chronic illnesses and preventing the onset of new diseases. Medical clinics not only offer medical treatment, but also provide health education services, chronic disease management, and comprehensive screenings. They have become an important part of modern-day medical care and continue to develop and broaden their specialist areas of concern to improve public health.
Health Education
Health education, an important preventive service, empowers individuals to take charge of their well-being. It serves as a powerful tool for enabling patients to better comprehend their medical conditions, and improve self-management of chronic diseases. A medical clinic can also offer patient education on making healthy lifestyle choices, such as dietary habits and exercise, helping prevent the development of new health issues.
Disease Management
In addition, disease management is a preventive care service covered by Medicare. By providing medication, monitoring symptoms, and offering necessary support, clinics can assist patients in managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart conditions. Effective chronic disease management prevents complications and improves overall health outcomes.
Screenings
Screenings are another preventative care service that medical clinics offer. They can detect diseases at an early stage, minimizing the risk of chronic diseases. Diabetes, hypertension, and cancer are just a few examples of illnesses that medical clinics can screen for. Timely detection can lead to timely treatment, improving the chances of a successful recovery. With the help of medical screenings offered by clinics, patients can stay on top of their health and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Preventative care services offered in medical clinics have a substantial impact on patient outcomes. According to a publication in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, individuals who received preventative care exhibited better health outcomes and lower healthcare expenses relative to those who did not receive preventative care services. This health economics study emphasizes the importance of preventative care services offered by medical clinics in improving patient outcomes and decreasing healthcare expenses. Therefore, routine preventative check-ups and examinations with medical professionals can play a crucial role in keeping individuals healthy while also reducing healthcare costs.
Increasing Access to Preventative Care in Kansas
Strategies to Increase Access to Preventative Care
As is the case with many healthcare issues, underserved communities often face significant challenges when it comes to accessing preventative care. Transportation issues, lack of health insurance, and language barriers are among the main reasons why individuals lack the appropriate preventative care they need. To tackle these issues head-on, effective strategies must be implemented that increase accessibility to preventative services. Ultimately, ensuring that everyone has access to these services will lead to significant improvements in health equity and overall population health outcomes.
Increasing awareness of preventative services is one of the strategies to increase access to these services. Improving access to preventative care services is crucial, especially for individuals who may not be aware that Medicare covers these services or that they may be available at medical clinics. Raising awareness can help people better understand how important these preventative care services are.
Additionally, improving transportation options for patients is another strategy to increase access to preventative care services. Lack of transportation still remains a major obstacle for patients seeking primary care and preventive services. In order to increase public equity and access to services, transportation options to primary care appointments need to become more readily available. With better transportation services, individuals will be more likely to have access to the preventative care that they need.
Telehealth services offer an effective strategy to increase access to preventative care services which are especially beneficial for individuals residing in remote areas or those with mobility challenges. With the advancement of telehealth services, patients can receive medical care remotely, and can now also access preventative care services such as health education and chronic disease management with ease. These services have extended medical coverage to those who previously had limited or no access to coverage through health insurance.
Health Disparities Medicare Faces
Addressing Health Disparities through Preventative Care
Currently, there are many health disparities within healthcare that can have detrimental effects on individuals. Often linked to social and economic factors such as income, education, and access to healthcare, these differences in health outcomes can be addressed through preventative services. Preventative care provides individuals with the necessary tools and resources to manage their health effectively, helping lower the disproportionate burden of health disparities.
Preventative care addresses health disparities through health education for individuals from underserved communities. Patient education can facilitate their understanding of health conditions, encouraging them to take an active role in their healthcare. In addition, providing health education in multiple languages can help to address language barriers that may prevent some individuals from receiving preventative care services, health insurance, or Medicare benefits. Educational programs that build health literacy among populations in need contribute towards the reduction of health disparities and promote better health outcomes.
Providing access to chronic disease management services for individuals from underserved communities is another way in which preventative care can help address health disparities. These preventative services aim to help individuals manage their chronic conditions more effectively, which can in turn prevent the onset of complications and improve overall health.
Medicare Clinic Near Me in Wichita, Kansas
Preventative Care for Seniors at HealthCore
Preventative care is an effective approach to promote better health outcomes and decrease healthcare expenses. Medical clinics and Medicare serve a significant function in helping patients with preventive services. Implementing measures to increase access to these services can have a considerable impact on public health and the individuals seeking preventive care. Providing access to preventative care services also aids in addressing health disparities, particularly in underserved populations.
Through the prioritization of preventative care, increases in health services research, and the implementation of quality improvement practices, healthcare providers like HealthCore Clinic, policymakers, and patients can work together to improve public health, health policy, the wellness of Medicare beneficiaries, and the community as a whole.
To schedule an appointment at HealthCore Clinic, please call 316-691-0249 or contact us online. HealthCore accepts KanCare / Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP and private insurance. We also offer sliding scale fees and prescription assistance for those not covered by insurance.
