Cardiovascular Behavioral Therapy

Preventive Care

This benefit supports heart-healthy habits with structured counseling.

Ask for a plan you can follow (food, activity, weight, tobacco).
Pick one habit to change first, then stack the next.
Track progress weekly (simple check-in).

Older men are engaged in a game of bocce ball, with a man in the distance in the process of rolling a ball.

Medicare Coverage

Medicare covers cardiovascular behavioral therapy under Part B.

You pay nothing if your primary care provider accepts assignment.
Frequency rules apply (often described as an annual preventive counseling visit).

Key takeaways

Medicare-backed coaching for heart-risk reduction.
Provider and frequency rules apply.
Ask how the counseling is billed.

Good to Know

Provider Accepts Assignment

In Original Medicare, “accepts assignment” means a provider agrees to Medicare’s approved amount as full payment (with you paying any required deductible/coinsurance). For many preventive services, using a provider who accepts assignment can help keep your costs lower and more predictable.

Frequency Limits

Many Medicare preventive services have frequency limits, meaning Medicare covers them only as often as allowed (for example, once every 12 months, once every five years, or once in your lifetime). The schedule varies by service.

Eligibility Rules

Many preventive services are covered only if you meet Medicare’s eligibility rules. These rules can include your age, risk factors, medical history, lab results, diagnoses, or timing (for example, being “at risk” for a screening).