Question:
Is Medicare’s initial preventive physical exam (IPPE) the same as a beneficiary’s yearly physical?
Answer:
No. The IPPE is not a routine physical checkup that some seniors may get periodically from their physician or other qualified non-physician practitioner. The IPPE is an introduction to Medicare and covered benefits and focuses on health promotion and disease prevention and detection to help beneficiaries stay well. Medicare does not cover routine physical examinations.