Wellness and Education for Longer Lives for Seniors Act of 2021
Bill: S.2174 | Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. (I-ME)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Wellness and Education for Longer Lives for Seniors Act of 2021 or the WELL Seniors Act of 2021
This bill includes balance screenings and services to address certain social determinants of health (e.g., food and housing security) as elements that may be covered in annual wellness visits under Medicare. The bill also provides incentive payments for visits that cover such elements.

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the annual 
               wellness visit under the Medicare program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Wellness and Education for Longer 
Lives for Seniors Act of 2021'' or the ``WELL Seniors Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MEDICARE ANNUAL WELLNESS VISIT.

    (a) Additional Elements.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1861(hhh)(2) of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(hhh)(2)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and 
                nutrition'' and inserting ``nutrition, mobility, food 
                security, housing security, transportation access, 
                social support, and other social determinants of health 
                as determined by the Secretary'';
                    (B) by moving subparagraphs (G) and (H) two ems to 
                the left;
                    (C) by redesignating subparagraph (I) as 
                subparagraph (J); and
                    (D) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the 
                following new subparagraph:
            ``(I) Screening for balance to identify risk for falls and 
        referral for treatment as appropriate.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 
        1, 2022.
    (b) Incentive Payments.--Section 1833 of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395l) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(ee) Incentive Payments for Annual Wellness Visits That Include 
Certain Elements.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of personalized prevention 
        plan services (as defined in paragraph (1) of section 
        1861(hhh)) that are furnished on or after January 1, 2022, and 
        that include the element described in subparagraph (F) of 
        paragraph (2) of such section 1861(hhh) and at least two 
        additional elements described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) 
        and (G) through (J) of such paragraph (2), in addition to the 
        amount of payment that would otherwise be made for such 
        personalized prevention plan services under this part, there 
        also shall be paid an amount equal to 10 percent of the payment 
        amount for the service under this part.
            ``(2) Coordination with other payments.--The amount of the 
        additional payment for a service under this subsection and 
        subsection (m) shall be determined without regard to any 
        additional payment for the service under subsection (m) and 
        this subsection, respectively. The amount of the additional 
        payment for a service under this subsection and subsection (z) 
        shall be determined without regard to any additional payment 
        for the service under subsection (z) and this subsection, 
        respectively.''.
    (c) Education and Outreach.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall conduct education and outreach activities regarding the 
coverage of annual wellness visits under the Medicare program, 
including changes to such visits under the amendments made by 
subsections (a) and (b).
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