MedicaidDocumentationMedium impact
25-1248 Action Required: Ensure Depression Screenings Count Toward Quality Metrics
Health Net·CA · Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Practice +3 more·Provider News
We identified it
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
Healthcare providers must now document depression screenings with specific tool names and numerical scores to meet HEDIS quality measures. For positive screens, follow-up action must be documented within 30 days, and screening results should be mapped to LOINC codes for electronic data exchange.
Action Required
Immediately: Providers must update depression screening documentation to include: (1) specific tool name (PHQ-2, PHQ-9, or NCQA-approved tool), (2) total numerical score, and (3) follow-up action within 30 days for positive screens. Billing team should update EMR templates to capture these elements and map screening results to appropriate LOINC codes (PHQ-9: 44261-6, PHQ-9 teens: 89204-2, PHQ-2: 55758-7). Train staff on new documentation standards to ensure HEDIS compliance and avoid lowered quality scores.