Vanderbilt University Human Resources

Preventive Care Program

Vanderbilt Group Health Plan for Faculty and Staff

Vanderbilt is pleased to offer an extensive and comprehensive Preventive Care Program as part of the Vanderbilt Group Health Plan for Faculty and Staff.

Coverage at your office visit copay includes all age-appropriate services according to the Preventive Care Program guidelines described below.

Infants/Toddlers (Birth–24 months)

Children (2–18 years)

Adults (19–64 years)

Adults (Over 65 years)

Infants/Toddlers (Birth–24 months)
*Preventive Care covered at your office visit copay.*
Hearing screenings	Before discharge from nursery; those not tested at birth should be screened before age 3 months
Sickle cell screening	Before discharge from nursery
Phenylketonuria screening	Before discharge from nursery
Hypothyroidism screening	Before discharge from nursery
Hemoglobinopathies screening	Before discharge from nursery
Routine immunizations	As recommended by physician
Height, weight and head circumference	Every visit
Anticipatory guidance for parent (including diet, injury prevention, dental health, effects of passive smoking, sleep positioning counseling)	Every visit
Developmental/behavioral assessment	Every visit
History and physical exam (including height and weight)	Six visits during first year; three visits during second year
Dental health exam by General Physician	Periodically ages 4 months to 18 years
Lead screening	Once between 12–24 months of age (or upon first entry to a health care system, if older). All children should be assessed for risk of exposure to lead through administration of a questionnaire at each routine well-child visit between 6–72 months of age.

Well-Baby Visits: six office visits during first year for routine health assessment; three office visits during months 13–24 for routine health assessment.

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Children/Adolescents (2–18 Years)
*Preventive Care covered at your office visit copay.*
Behavioral/developmental assessment	Every visit
Anticipatory guidance	Every visit
Height and weight	Every visit
Eating disorders screen	Every visit for patients age 13–18 years
Vision screen for amblyopia and strabismus	Recommended for all children once before entering school, preferably between ages 3 and 4 years. Vision screening generally provided by school system ages 7–12.
	Four visits between ages 2–6 years
	One visit every other year between ages 7–10 years
History and physical exam	One visit every year between ages 11–18 years
Dental health exam by General Physician	Periodically between ages 4 months to 18 years
Blood pressure-screening for hypertension	Sphygmomanometry should be performed at each visit beginning at age 3, in accordance with the recommended technique for children, and hypertension should only be diagnosed on the basis of readings at each of three separate visits.
Hearing screening	Between ages 3 and 4 years

Well-Child Visits: Four office visits between ages 2-6 years for routine health assessment; office visit every other year for ages 7–10 years for routine health assessment; office visit every year for ages 11–18 years for routine health assessment

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Adults (19–64 Years)
*Preventive Care covered at your office visit copay.*
Height and weight	Every visit
History and physical exam	Every 1–3 years as recommended by physician until age 40, and then annually
Blood pressure-screening for hypertension	Every 1–3 years as recommended by physician
Diet & exercise counseling	Every 1–3 years as recommended by physician
Tobacco, Alcohol, and Substance Abuse Counseling	Every 1–3 years as recommended by physician
Sexual practices counseling	Every 1–3 years as recommended by physician
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)	As recommended by physician for men considered to be at risk for prostate cancer
Papanicolaou smear (Pap test), cervical cancer screening	Annually for women (less frequent testing is permitted once three or more annual smears have been normal and if recommended by the physician)
Women who have not had bilateral mastectomy: one baseline screening for women age 35–39
Mammogram – Breast cancer screening	One screening annually for women age 40 and older
Influenza vaccination	Annually for age 50 and older
Colonoscopy	Total colon examination by colonoscopy, every 10 years after age 50.
Total blood cholesterol (can be non-fasting)	Every 5 years, if normal
Tetanus and diphtheria Immunization	Every 10 years
Osteoporosis prevention counseling	Every visit for pre- and post-menopausal women
Hormone prophylaxis counseling	Every visit for pre- and post-menopausal women
Fecal occult blood test	Annually
Flexible sigmoidoscopy	Every 5 years
Colorectal cancer screening	Total colon examination by DCBE, every 5–10 years
Bone mineral density screening	Initial screening for postmenopausal women at risk for osteoporosis; subsequent screenings should be based on risk status
Eye exams by General Physician	Every 1–3 years as recommended by physician until age 40, and then annually
Clinical breast exam	Annually for women age 19 and older (more frequently for women with a family history of pre-menopausal diagnosed breast cancer)

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Adults (Over 65 Years)
*Preventive Care covered at your office visit copay.*
Height and weight	At each visit for routine health exam
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)	As recommended by physician for men considered to be at risk for prostate cancer
Papanicolaou smear (Pap test) Cervical cancer screening	Annually, as recommended by physician, for women who are/have been sexually active and who have a cervix. May discontinue if previous regular testing results were consistently normal.
Mammogram – Breast cancer screening	Annually for women who have not had a bilateral mastectomy
Colonoscopy	Total colon examination by colonoscopy, every 10 years
Diet and exercise counseling	Annually
Tobacco, alcohol, and substance abuse counseling	Annually
Vision screen and hearing test	Annually, as recommended by physician. Periodically question patients about hearing, counsel about hearing aid devices, and make referrals for abnormalities
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)	Annually
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy	Every five years
Colorectal cancer screening	Total colon examination by DCBE, every 5–10 years
Total blood cholesterol (can be non-fasting)	Annually
Blood pressure-screening for hypertension	Annually
Sexual practices counseling	Annually
Influenza Vaccination	Annually
Pneumoccocal Vaccination	Once if patient has not already received
Osteoporosis prevention counseling	Annually for post-menopausal women
Hormone prophylaxis counseling	Annually for post-menopausal women

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Note: This information is provided as a guideline and an estimation of costs. You should consult The Plan’s Summary Plan Description and your provider’s Explanation of Coverage for more information. All rules of The Plan apply. Charges for medical services vary by provider and medical coding.

Vanderbilt University is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action.

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Last Updated: October 19, 2009