Diabetes Screening for People with Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder who are Using Antipsychotic Medications (SSD)
Why is it important?
People
with schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder are at greater risk for
metabolic syndrome compared to the general population (Lieberman et
al., 2005; Cohn et al., 2004). Routine diabetes screening is
important for people with either of these diagnoses, particularly when
compounded by the added risk associated with antipsychotic
medications. Diabetes screening for individuals with
schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder prescribed antipsychotic
medication can lead to earlier identification and treatment of
diabetes, resulting in less advanced stages of diabetes in the
population, and lessening the impact of the expression of the disease
on comorbid conditions.
How is it measured?
Diabetes Screening:
The percentage of Members 18-64 years of age with schizophrenia and/or
bipolar disorder, who were dispensed an antipsychotic medication and
had a diabetes screening test during the measurement year. Per
HEDIS specifications, diabetes screening includes a glucose test or an
HbA1c test.
How does MBHP perform?
MBHP's plan-wide performance is 69.54% for the SSD measure.
How does MBHP stack up to Medicaid providers nationally?
The figure below presents SSD benchmark rates across Medicaid plans nationally.
Performance Goal
MBHP
has a year-end goal of reaching the next highest national Medicaid benchmark for the SSD
measure. Based on our performance and current national benchmarks, MBHP is 15.19% away from its goal of reaching the 50th percentile of Medicaid providers nationally.
What are our current improvement initiatives?
MBHP's
Quality Department is responsible for organizing improvement activities
and initiatives that support the SSD measure. Current efforts
include:
Real time outreach to prescribers to promote diabetes screening: MBHP
will reach out to providers who have seen MBHP Members diagnosed and
prescribed medications for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and who do
not currently have diabetes. MBHP will send performance reports
to the provider, along with recommended strategies for improvement in
order to promote increased rates of screening.
MBHP
supports routine screening for all Members at-risk for developing
diabetes, as well as annual screenings for Members already diagnosed
with diabetes.
What can I do?
Follow best practices for SSD:
- Screen Members for diabetes who take medication for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
- Review psychiatric/mental health history with each Member
- Continue to review current psychiatric medications periodically with Members
- Increase
coordination across Member's different types of care: encourage the
Member to share the names and contact information of his/her PCC or BH
providers
- Develop communication pathway between BH and PCC
providers to facilitate information flows between all providers caring
for the same Member, resulting in better care coordination and
screening rates
Contact the Quality Department to access your SSD rate.
