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Encourage Follow-up Care after Hospital Visits for Mental Health

BCBS Texas·TX · Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine +1 more·General
Effective date
Feb 14, 2025
We identified it
Jan 12, 2026
Days to comply

Summary

Blue Cross Blue Shield Texas is encouraging providers to schedule mental health follow-up appointments within 7 days of hospital discharge or ED visits to improve patient outcomes and meet HEDIS quality measures. This is guidance for improving care coordination, not a billing requirement change.

Action Required

Action needed
Immediately: Care coordinators and scheduling staff should prioritize scheduling mental health follow-up appointments within 7 days of hospital discharge or ED visits. Ensure follow-up visits use mental health diagnosis codes consistent with the original admission. Coordinate between behavioral health and primary care providers by sharing progress notes that include mental health diagnoses.