Behavioral health resources for medical providers
If you care for a UnitedHealthcare commercial plan member who takes an antipsychotic, antidepressant or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication, please review the following screening tools and recommendations by condition.
For adolescents and children
ADHD
Prior to diagnosis, please consider conducting a thorough assessment to rule out other conditions that can mimic ADHD in children, such as learning disabilities, depression and anxiety. We encourage you to use these screening resources:
- Vanderbilt Assessment Scale for screening and diagnosis: See the Optum Behavioral Health Toolkit - Child and Adolescent > ADHD
- Clinical practice tools from the Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) organization
In addition, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) provides care guidance in their Follow-Up Care for Children Prescribed ADHD Medication article.
Metabolic monitoring
To help prevent the adverse metabolic effects that children and adolescents can experience from antipsychotic medication,1,2 the NCQA has specific recommendations for blood glucose and cholesterol tests and annual monitoring.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) has specific recommendations for psychosocial care.
For adults
Depression
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommend that adult patients complete the Patient Health Questionnaire screening tool as needed.
Resources
- To refer a patient to a behavioral health professional or to request care coordination, please call the number on the member’s ID card. Or, find local behavioral health professionals by visiting Live and Work Well > Find a provider.
- Access the Behavioral Health Toolkit for Medical Providers page from Optum
- For related HEDIS and CMS measures and codes, please see our 2023 PATH Guide
