| Date: | September 18, 2019 |
| To: | HPSJ Primary Care Providers {PCP} and Behavioral Health Care Providers |
| From: | HPSJ Quality Management Department |
| Subject: | MCAS Measure AMM – Antidepressant Medication Management |
| Business: | Medi-Cal |
Patients who are new starts to antidepressant medications are at high risk for non-adherence. The HPSJ Quality Team looks at adults ages 18+ who have a diagnosis of major depression and have been subsequently prescribed antidepressants.
When documenting major depression, make sure to include information about the following:
- Whether the episode was single or recurrent
- The severity of the episode: mild, moderate, severe without psychotic features, or severe with psychotic features
- The clinical status of the patient and whether they’re in partial or full remission
The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) incorporates DSM-IV depression diagnostic criteria with other leading major depressive symptoms into a brief self-report tool, and can assist with identifying positive screening and should lead to additional assessment and follow up. The PHQ-9 is at www.phqscreeners.com.
Antidepressant Medications:
HPSJ works with providers to monitor patients with depression, closely during the first 3-6 months of treatment to help ensure members continue to take their medication as prescribed. Taking medications as prescribed and filling them on-time are important to long-term health and the well-being of patients.
Please ensure patients are compliant with their antidepressant medications as it is essential to treatment of their major depression.
If you have questions, please contact your Provider Services Representative or call our
Customer Service Department at 209-942-6320.