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The Importance of Follow-Up Care for Mental Illness

Date: 07/08/25

Visiting the hospital for mental illness or intentional self-harm can be overwhelming. Research suggests that timely follow-up care after discharge can help the member transition back to home, work, or school and can help providers detect early post-hospitalization reactions and medication concerns.1

Advancements in integrating behavioral healthcare with primary care have created opportunities with the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model. With this model, non-behavioral health providers can utilize a psychiatric consultant to participate in care services.

Provider Tips

  • Offer telehealth and phone visits.
  • Provide empathic listening and nonjudgmental discussions to engage the patient and caregivers in decision making.
  • Reach out proactively to assist in (re)scheduling appointments within the required timeframes.
  • Encourage coordination of care between physical and behavioral health providers, including transitions in care.
  • Reinforce the treatment plan and evaluate any medication regimen considering presence/absence of side effects, etc.
  • Partner with the health plan to address social determinants, health equity, and quality care.
  • Provide timely submission of claims and code-related diagnoses and visits correctly.
  • Address co-morbidities and integrate care with peer support and psychiatric collaborative care models.

Measures

  • Follow-Up After Hospitalization for Mental Illness (FUH)
  • Follow-Up After Emergency Department Visit for Mental Illness (FUM)

Additional Support:

Source: NCQA



Last Updated: 07/08/2025