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Maximizing Back to School Patient Visits to Boost Overall Health

Published Date: June 25, 2026

Highmark Wholecare encourages providers to actively use annual wellness visits and sports physicals, as members prepare for the upcoming school year, to assess overall health and encourage healthy habits

Closing Care Gaps:

Wellness visits and sports physicals are ideal times to close care gaps and ensure patient health is being managed across the board. This includes:

Screening for chronic conditions
Addressing preventative care
Managing existing conditions

Highmark Wholecare’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) Provider Reports and the Novillus CGMA (contact your Clinical Transformation Consultant with questions) tool easily helps you identify what gaps a member has and what steps can be taken to close the gap.

Immunizations:

These visits are also crucial for ensuring patients are up to date on their immunizations. This includes vaccines required by the state for children to attend school.

Topical Fluoride Varnish:
Applying topical fluoride varnish to the teeth of children and adolescents during wellness visits and physicals can significantly reduce the risk of cavities. This simple, painless procedure can help strengthen tooth enamel and promote a patient’s oral health.

Benefits for You and Your Patients:
You play a crucial role in promoting the health and well-being of your patients. By taking these proactive steps, you can improve health outcomes, reduce future health care costs, and strengthen patient relationships.

We encourage you to make the most of these valuable opportunities to improve the overall health of our members and your patients. Together, we can work towards a healthier future for all.