Select Pediatrics to directly schedule an office visit or physical with AppointmentsNOW. For all other medical specialties, call our 24/7 Contact Center at 713-442-0427.
What is the difference between a routine office visit, a physical and a Medicare Advantage Health Risk Assessment?
A routine office visit is an appointment that is used for most acute and chronic medical problems. Most acute illnesses and chronic medical conditions can be addressed during these visits. Patients with a large number of physical complaints or chronic illnesses may be asked to schedule additional routine office visits if there is not enough time to address all of their current problems.
An appointment for a physical, or recommended periodic preventive exam, includes a physical exam based on an individual’s medical history. Based on the patient’s age, the physical may also include the following:
- For babies and very young children, these visits would include the recommended vaccinations for each age group and monitoring early growth and development.
- For kids ages 4 through 18, this would be their annual physical/school activities exam, which is an important tool for making sure immunizations are up to date and for checking on their growth and development.
- For adults ages 18 through 65, a complete health-maintenance evaluation and counseling is included with the physical exam. This may include a breast exam and Pap smear, if needed, in women. Cancer screening may also be done during this exam and laboratory and X-ray studies may be ordered. Due to the extent of health maintenance issues that need to be addressed during this exam, other medical problems may not be fully evaluated and treated during this visit. Patients with additional medical problems may be advised to make a separate routine office visit appointment to address these other problems. A physical appointment is appropriate as the recommended periodic preventive exam for adult patients ages 18 through 65.
A Medicare Advantage Health Risk Assessment is for adults ages 65+ and all patients enrolled in TexanPlus OR KelseyCare Advantage (regardless of age) who need a physical. Please do not select a regular physical. The Medicare Advantage Health Risk Assessment is longer in duration than a physical and includes an age-specific health maintenance evaluation and counseling along with the physical exam.
If you are 65 and over or are enrolled in the TexanPlus or KelseyCare Advantage health plans, you should select a Health Risk Assessment instead of a physical.
You should only select a Health Risk Assessment if you are 65 and over or enrolled in TexanPlus or KelseyCare Advantage. Otherwise, select a physical.
