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AmeriHealth encourages improved communication between behavioral health
providers and primary care physicians (PCP) in an effort to promote a cohesive
plan of care for patients. During 2017, AmeriHealth and its behavioral health
delegate, Magellan Healthcare, Inc., will explore potential barriers and
opportunities to facilitate communication and collaboration between PCPs and
behavioral health providers and achieve optimal outcomes for your patients.
While communication between PCPs and behavioral health providers is slowly
improving, there continues to be a large percentage of providers, both medical
and behavioral health, that does not communicate about patient care.
Information that PCPs may find helpful when they contact their patients?
behavioral health care provider includes:
- Is the patient on any second-generation antipsychotics?
- Are there any special considerations regarding medication interactions? Has
the patient had any side effects from medications?
- How is this affecting any medical complaints? If there is a chronic
illness, does he/she have increased symptoms during times of stress?
- How can you coordinate appropriate tests to be ordered and results
monitored?
PCPs must obtain patient consent to exchange patients? personal information
and discuss their mental health care. Therefore, please discuss with your
patients the importance of having this information for their health and safety.
When possible, provide your patients with a consent form they can sign, so they
are informed of the information that will be shared and can give their written
consent.
To facilitate care between PCPs and behavioral health providers, AmeriHealth
and Magellan created a Clinician Collaboration Form to be completed and
then sent electronically by mail to the provider. For a copy of the Clinical
Collaboration Form and other tools and resources, go to AmeriHealth
NaviNet® Plan Central and select Health and Wellness
under Administrative Tools & Resources. You can also visit the website for AmeriHealth New Jersey or AmeriHealth Pennsylvania.
Magellan Healthcare, Inc. manages mental health and
substance abuse benefits for most AmeriHealth members.
NaviNet is a registered trademark of NaviNet, Inc.
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