What is the CPT code 99396 for annual wellness visit?

Asked by: Mekhi Gutkowski  |  Last update: July 25, 2025
Score: 5/5 (37 votes)

CPT code 99396 signifies a comprehensive preventive medicine evaluation and management service for established patients.

What is the difference between 99396 and 99395?

99395: preventive care for established patients ages 18 through 39. 99396: preventive care for established patients ages 40 through 64.

What is the CPT code for annual preventive wellness check?

The CPT codes for Annual Wellness Visits are G0438 for the initial visit and G0439 for subsequent visits. These codes are used to bill Medicare for comprehensive wellness assessments and personalized prevention plans.

Can you bill 99396 and G0439 together?

Don't bill CPT codes 99381-99397 (comprehensive preventive medicine evaluation and management services) for Medicare services covered by HCPCS codes G0402, G0438, and G0439.

Can you bill CPT 99213 and 99396 together?

In this case, you may submit codes for both a preventive service (such as 99396) and a regular office visit (such as 99213) by attaching -25 to the office-visit code.

Annual Wellness Visits (AWV): CPT Codes, Billing and Reimbursements

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What are the billing guidelines for 99396?

The billing guidelines for CPT Code 99396 include documenting medical necessity, accurately documenting the time spent during the visit, using appropriate modifiers for separate services, and obtaining consent or advance beneficiary notice (ABN) if applicable.

When to bill 99213 vs 99214?

The primary difference between CPT code 99213 and 99214 lies in the complexity and time involved. While 99213 is for a low level of medical decision-making, 99214 is used for moderate complexity, requiring a higher level of medical decision-making and more extensive history and examination.

Does an AWV have to be 12 months apart?

We cover only 1 IPPE per patient per lifetime and 1 additional AWV every 12 months after the date of the patient's last AWV (or IPPE). Check eligibility to find when a patient is eligible for their next preventive service.

Does Medicare pay for CPT code 99396?

Preventive medicine visits (CPT codes 99381-99397) are for patients covered by commercial insurance, Medicaid plans, and some Medicare Advantage plans. Patients value these visits because they are not subject to co-pays and deductibles. After age two, one preventive visit is covered annually.

What is the modifier for annual wellness visit?

Coding and Billing a Medicare AWV

It is important that the elements of the AWV not be replicated in the medically necessary service. Physicians must append modifier -25 (significant, separately identifiable service) to the medically necessary E/M service, e.g. 99213-25, to be paid for both services.

Can you bill G0101 with 99396?

Do not bill HCPCS code G0101 in addition to a preventive service reported with CPT® codes 99381—99397. Those codes include an age and gender appropriate physical exam and if needed, the pelvic and breast exam is part of that service.

Can you bill an office visit with an annual wellness visit?

The CMS website states “When you provide an annual wellness visit and a significant, separately identifiable, medically necessary Evaluation and Management (E/M) service, Medicare may pay the additional service. Report the additional CPT code with Modifier-25.

What is the difference between a physical and an annual wellness visit?

While a physical includes a full examination and a wellness evaluation, an Annual Wellness Visits focuses solely on a patient's answers to a health risk assessment. It does not typically include any lab work or tests requiring physical contact.

What is the CPT code for annual wellness visit?

At ChartSpan, we provide eligibility checks for G0438 and G0439 — the core codes for Annual Wellness Visits. However, some AWVs may involve additional codes depending on a patient's needs.

Can 99396 be done via telehealth?

Comprehensive prevention family planning visits are also covered via telemedicine/telehealth, billed with an FP modifier: CPT® 99384, 99385, 99386, 99394, 99395, 99396, 99401. Comprehensive prevention family planning visits will continue to be limited to once every 365 days.

Is preventive care the same as annual wellness visit?

You schedule preventive visits which are annual physicals, well child exams and wellness exams to help prevent or detect any health concerns. This is also known as your annual wellness exam or annual health maintenance exam.

When to use cpt code 99396?

CPT code 99396 refers to a preventive medicine evaluation and management (E/M) service for patients aged 65 years or older. It involves a comprehensive annual wellness visit (AWV), including personalized preventive medicine planning.

What modifier is used for 99396?

In this case, the clinician would report the appropriate preventive service visit (such as 99396) on one line of the claim form, followed by the problem-oriented E/M visit (such as 99213) with modifier 25 appended on the next line.

Why am I being charged for preventive care?

Although you don't pay cost-sharing charges when you receive preventive care, the cost of those services is wrapped into the cost of your health insurance. Thus, whether or not you choose to get the recommended preventive care, you're paying for it through the cost of your health insurance premiums anyway.

How often will Medicare pay for a wellness exam?

With Medicare Part B, you can get a wellness visit once a year at no cost to you. Check to make sure the doctor or nurse accepts Medicare when you schedule your appointment.

What are the three types of Medicare wellness visits?

There are three types of visits:
  • Initial Preventive Physical Exam (IPPE)
  • Initial Annual Wellness Visit (AWV)
  • Subsequent AWVs.

Can 99397 and G0439 be billed in the same year?

These codes must be used for these services for Medicare beneficiaries. CPT codes 99381-99397 for comprehensive preventive medicine evaluation and management services should not be used to bill for Medicare services covered by HCPCS codes G0402, G0438 and G0439.

Is CPT code 99213 covered by Medicare?

For example, a 67-year-old established patient presents for a covered service, such as an office visit for a chronic illness (e.g., 99213). At the same encounter, the patient chooses to receive a preventive medicine examination (e.g., 99397), which is a non-covered service under Medicare.

Can you bill 99395 and 99213 together?

can be used 99213 with 99395 at the same visit? Absolutely! You would use the modifier -25 on the 99213. Look at the Preventive Medicine section in CPT® and this is outlined in the narrative explanation prior to the actual listing of codes.

When not to use modifier 25?

Modifier 25 should not be used when: ❌ The sole purpose of the encounter is for the procedure (e.g., lesion removal), and there is no documented medical necessity for a separate E/M service.