An innovative approach to managing depression: focus on HEDIS standards

This article reviews a disease management program that was developed to improve the treatment of depression in members of a managed care organization (MCO). The program's focus is on medication monitoring to improve members' compliance with their antidepressant medication regimen. Within the first year of the program's implementation, medication compliance rates improved by more than 10%. This was accomplished through a collaborative team effort among the MCO, the MCO's behavioral health vendor, the MCO's pharmacy benefit management provider, and a physician advisory committee. The program's positive outcomes demonstrate that patient monitoring works when there is collaboration among healthcare providers and physician support is achieved.