Screening identifies members at risk for depression
Initiative is to improve members’ quality of life
When members enroll in one of Health Alliance Plan’s (HAP) disease management programs, the health assessment questionnaire they fill out includes trigger questions that may indicate that the member is at risk for depression.
"We include theses questions because there is a higher instance of depression with other chronic illnesses. Those who answer positively to the trigger questions are mailed a depression screening questionnaire to fill out and send back," says LaShawnda Cash, MPH, depression management coordinator in HAP’s quality management department.
The organization has developed disease management programs for asthma, diabetes, and congestive heart failure.
Members in HAP’s disease management programs fill out an initial assessment that has two depression "trigger questions." If they respond positively to those questions they are sent a Prime-MD Depression screening tool to fill out and mail back. The screening tools are scored and reviewed by case managers in the coordinated behavioral health management (CBHM) department.
One of the behavioral health case managers calls members who respond to the second screen and discuss the results. They talk to them to find out what is going on in their life and offer them an appropriate type of intervention.
"Some of the feelings of depression are related to their illness. The case managers spend time with them and educate them about their illness. They try to get them to accept a referral to a specialist, even if it’s just for an evaluation," says Mary Clare Solky, MA, director of coordinated behavioral health management.
The case managers tell members that if they get professional help for their depression, it can improve their quality of life and help their other illnesses, she adds.
If the members are diagnosed with depression, they also become part of the Living Well with Depression program.
Members have responded well to the case managers calls, Solky reports.
"People like it. They are surprised at how the departments are connected, and they like knowing that the plan is looking at them as a whole person, rather than just the diabetes or asthma," Solky says.
Helping patients with chronic illnesses cope with depression improves their compliances in their treatment plan and helps prevent exacerbations, she adds.
"We try to cover all angles and take every opportunity to make sure our members are getting the right type of care. There is some speculation in the literature as to whether or not total costs of care go down when patients get proper behavioral medicine care. However, we are assured that the patients are getting the right care and that their quality of life is improving," she adds.
When members enroll in one of Health Alliance Plans (HAP) disease management programs, the health assessment questionnaire they fill out includes trigger questions that may indicate that the member is at risk for depression.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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