Follow-Up After Hospitalization for Mental Illness (FUH)
What is the FUH — HEDIS® Measure?
Based on current HEDIS recommendations for best practices, members ages 6 years and older who were hospitalized for treatment of select mental illness or intentional self-harm diagnoses, should have received a follow-up visit with a mental health provider.
The following will meet compliance when completed during the measurement year:
7-Day Follow-Up:
A follow-up visit with a mental health provider within 7 days after discharge
- Per HEDIS specifications, do not include visits that occur on the date of discharge
30-Day Follow-Up
A follow-up visit with a mental health provider within 30 days after discharge
- Per HEDIS specifications, do not include visits that occur on the date of discharge
Best Practices
- Educate patients and caregivers on the importance of follow-up care to reduce the risk of inpatient admission.
- Discuss the importance of seeking follow-up care with a mental health provider.
- Train staff on the “Teach-Back Method” to ensure patients and caregivers review and understand discharge instructions and the next steps in their care for follow-up.
- Develop outreach systems or assign case managers to encourage recently released patients to keep follow-up appointments or reschedule missed appointments.
- Reach out to patients who do not keep initial follow-up appointments.
- Set flags, if available, in EHR or develop a tracking method for patients due or past due for follow-up after discharge visits.
- Coordinate care with behavioral health practitioners by sharing progress notes and updates.
- Notify our Concurrent Review team of patient's aftercare information on the day of discharge.
NCQA HEDIS Population Definition for This Measure:
Population: Members ages 6 years and older as of the date of an acute inpatient discharge with a principal diagnosis of mental illness or intentional self-harm on the discharge claim on or between January 1 and December 1 of the measurement year.
Line of Business: Commercial, Medicaid, Medicare
To learn more about your practice's current HEDIS performance, HEDIS Value sets for this or other measures, or for assistance in compliance with the HEDIS guidelines, please email BH_HEDISTeam@HorizonBlue.com or visit Provider Tips for Optimizing HEDIS Results Booklet.