Mrs. Johnson, a 68-year-old patient, presents to the clinic for a routine annual physical exam. She has coverage under a Medicare Advantage Plan. As a medical assistant responsible for billing, what is important to ensure before submitting the claim for the visit?
Bill the patient directly for the annual physical, as Medicare Advantage Plans do not cover preventive services.
Automatically submit the claim as all Medicare recipients are entitled to one routine annual physical exam per year without cost-sharing.
Verify Mrs. Johnson's eligibility and coverage for the annual physical exam under her specific Medicare Advantage Plan for the service date.
Assume that the Medicare Advantage Plan follows the same rules as traditional Medicare and requires no verification.