Alcohol misuse screenings & counseling

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)

covers an alcohol misuse screening once per year if you’re an adult (including pregnant women) who uses alcohol, but you don’t meet the medical criteria for alcohol dependency. If your primary care doctor or other primary care practitioner determines you’re misusing alcohol, you can get up to 4 brief face-to-face counseling sessions each year (if you’re competent and alert during counseling).

How often

Once each year.

Your costs in Original Medicare

You pay nothing if the qualified primary care doctor or other primary care practitioner accepts

assignment

.

note:

Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and whether Medicare will pay for them.

Things to know

A qualified primary care doctor or other primary care practitioner must provide the counseling in a primary care setting (like a doctor’s office).

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Alcohol misuse screenings & counseling

How often

note:

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