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The Medicare agency focused Monday on a section of the law that allows seniors to receive certain preventive services, including an annual checkup, without paying a co-pay or deductible.

CMS said 14.3 million seniors took advantage of that benefit in the first five months of 2012, including more than 1 million who received an "annual wellness visit."

“Thanks to the health care law, millions of Americans are getting cancer screenings, mammograms and other preventive services for free,” acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner said in a statement. “These free preventive services are helping people in Medicare stay healthy and lower their health care costs.”