• This is a Healthcare Effectiveness & Data Information Set (HEDIS®) adjusted administrative measure and only includes Medicaid Primary beneficiaries.
• The annual reported rate captures activity during the stated measurement year (MY).
• The DVHA Data Unit incorporates mental health services reported to the Department of Mental Health via the MSR in the above rates & excludes residential mental health and substance abuse services.
• The target trendline in the graph above represents the 90th national benchmark percentile for Medicaid programs across the country. 

​​The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is a registered trademark of NCQA.

This measure looks at continuity of care for mental illness. It measures the percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries 6 years of age and older who were hospitalized for selected mental disorders and who were seen on an outpatient basis by a mental health provider within 7 days or within 30 days after their discharge from the hospital.  The specifications for this measure are consistent with guidelines of the National Institute of Mental Health and the Centers for Mental Health Services.

It is important to provide regular follow-up therapy to patients after they have been hospitalized for mental illness. An outpatient visit with a mental health practitioner after discharge is recommended to make sure that the patient’s transition to the home or work environment is supported and that gains made during hospitalization are not lost. It also helps health care providers detect early post-hospitalization reactions or medication problems and provide continuing care.

Last updated:  January 2024

• Medicaid beneficiaries and families
• Mental health practitioners
• Hospitals
• Department of Mental Health
• Department of Children and Families
• Department of Aging and Independent Living
• Vermont Department of Health

• Schedule follow-up appointments when a patient is discharged, as part of the treatment or case management plan.
• Educate patients and practitioners about the importance of timely follow-up visits.
• Consider reminder systems or “re-schedule” notices that are delivered to patients.
• Develop outreach systems or assign case managers to encourage recently discharged patients to keep follow-up appointments or reschedule missed appointments.

NCQA’s Notice of Copyright and Disclaimers 
“The source for certain health plan measure rates and benchmark (averages and percentiles) data (“the Data”) is Quality Compass® 2022 and is used with the permission of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (“NCQA”). Any analysis, interpretation or conclusion based on the Data is solely that of the authors, and NCQA specifically disclaims responsibility for any such analysis, interpretation or conclusion. Quality Compass is a registered trademark of NCQA. 

The Data comprises audited performance rates and associated benchmarks for Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set measures (“HEDIS® ”) and HEDIS CAHPS® survey measure results. HEDIS measures and specifications were developed by and are owned by NCQA. HEDIS measures and specifications are not clinical guidelines and do not establish standards of medical care. NCQA makes no representations, warranties or endorsement about the quality of any organization or clinician that uses or reports performance measures or any data or rates calculated using HEDIS measures and specifications, and NCQA has no liability to anyone who relies on such measures or specifications. 

NCQA holds a copyright in Quality Compass and the Data and can rescind or alter the Data at any time. The Data may not be modified by anyone other than NCQA. Anyone desiring to use or reproduce the Data without modification for an internal, noncommercial purpose may do so without obtaining approval from NCQA. All other uses, including a commercial use and/or external reproduction, distribution or publication, must be approved by NCQA and are subject to a license at the discretion of NCQA. © 2022 National Committee for Quality Assurance, all rights reserved. 

CAHPS is a registered trademark of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).”