Effects of screening for geriatric conditions and advance care planning at the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit

• Published in: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) 2022-02, Vol.70 (2), p.579-584
• Main Authors: Nothelle, Stephanie K., McGuire, Maura, Boyd, Cynthia M., Colburn, Jessica L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - statistics & numerical data; Activities of Daily Living; Advance Care Planning - statistics & numerical data; Advance directives; Aged; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Dysfunction - diagnosis; Electronic Health Records; Electronic medical records; Female; Geriatrics; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Medicare; Medicare - statistics & numerical data; prevention; Preventive Health Services - statistics & numerical data; primary care; Primary Health Care; Quality of care; Retrospective Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States
• ISSN: 0002-8614; 1532-5415
• DOI: 10.1111/jgs.17546

Background The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) requires screening for geriatrics conditions and can include advance care planning (ACP). We examined (1) the prevalence of positive screens for falls, cognitive impairment, and activities of daily living (ADL) impairment, (2) referrals/orders generated potentially in response, and (3) the increase in ACP among those with two AWVs. Methods In this retrospective analysis, we used electronic medical record data from a Mid‐Atlantic group ambulatory practice. We included adults age > 65 who had ≥1 AWV (n = 16,176) in years 2014–2017. Analyses on high‐risk prescribing were limited to those (n = 13,537) with ≥3 months of follow up and ACP to those (n = 9097) with two AWVs. We used responses from the AWV health risk questionnaire to identify screening status for falls, cognitive and ADL impairment and whether an older adult had an ACP. For each screen we identified orders/referrals placed potentially in response (e.g., physical therapy for falls). High‐risk medications were based on the 2019 Beers Criteria. Results Positive screening rates were 38% for falls, 23% for cognition, and 32% for ADL impairment. The adjusted odds of having an order placed potentially in response to the screening were 1.8 (95% CI 1.6–2.0) for falls, 1.4 (1.3–1.7) for cognition, 2.8 (2.4–3.3) for ADL impairment. The adjusted odds of a high‐risk prescription in the 3 months after a positive screen were 2.1 (95% CI 1.8–2.5) for falls and 1.9 (95% CI 1.6–2.4) for cognition. Of those with two AWVs, 48% had an ACP at the first AWV. Among the remaining 52% with no ACP at the first AWV, the predicted probability of having an ACP at the second AWV was 0.22 (95% CI 0.18–0.25). Conclusion Our results may indicate positive effects of screening for geriatric conditions at the AWV, and highlight opportunities to improve geriatrics care related to prescribing and ACP.