Assesses the percentage of inpatient discharges for a diagnosis of mental illness or intentional self-harm among patients age 6 years and older that resulted in follow-up care with a mental health provider within 7 and 30 days.
Why It Matters
In 2019, nearly one in five adults aged 18 and older in the U.S. had a diagnosed mental health disorder.1 Despite this, individuals hospitalized for mental health disorders often do not receive adequate follow-up care. Providing follow-up care to patients after psychiatric hospitalization can improve patient outcomes, decrease the likelihood of re-hospitalization and the overall cost of outpatient care.2,3,4
Results – National Averages
Follow-Up Within 7 Days Post-Discharge
| Measure Year | Commercial HMO | Commercial PPO | Medicaid HMO | Medicare HMO | Medicare PPO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 48 | 47.8 | 38.4 | 29.1 | 29.4 |
| 2020 | 50.1 | 49.2 | 39.4 | 30.4 | 31.1 |
| 2019 | 46.2 | 43.5 | 36.2 | § | § |
| 2018 | 45.6 | 43.0 | 35.8 | 27.7 | 27.3 |
| 2017 | 48.2 | 44.9 | 37.0 | 32.2 | 32.4 |
| 2016 | 52.9 | 50.4 | 45.5 | 35.1 | 35.4 |
| 2015 | 52.2 | 48.6 | 43.6 | 33.8 | 33.4 |
| 2014 | 53.0 | 49.6 | 43.9 | 35.3 | 34.7 |
| 2013 | 54.6 | 49.8 | 42.0 | 34.5 | 33.5 |
| 2012 | 57.9 | 53.0 | 43.7 | 38.1 | 37.7 |
| 2011 | 58.9 | 54.0 | 46.5 | 38.0 | 38.7 |
| 2010 | 59.7 | 54.2 | 44.6 | 37.4 | 39.1 |
| 2009 | 58.7 | 52.6 | 42.9 | 37.3 | 40.6 |
| 2008 | 57.2 | 49.8 | 42.6 | 38.1 | 37.3 |
| 2007 | 55.6 | 41.9 | 42.5 | 37.0 | 33.3 |
| 2006 | 56.7 | 48.3 | 39.1 | 36.9 | 38.5 |
| 2005 | 55.8 | 49.9 | 39.2 | 39.2 | 47.1 |
| 2004 | 55.9 | - | 38.0 | 40.1 | - |
| 2003 | 54.4 | - | 37.7 | 38.8 | - |
| 2002 | 52.7 | - | 37.2 | 38.7 | - |
| 2001 | 51.3 | - | 33.2 | 37.2 | - |
| 2000 | 48.2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1999 | 47.4 | - | - | - | - |
Follow-Up Within 30 Days Post-Discharge
| Measure Year | Commercial HMO | Commercial PPO | Medicaid HMO | Medicare HMO | Medicare PPO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70.6 | 70.1 | 58.7 | 48.9 | 50.3 |
| 2020 | 70.2 | 68.8 | 58.9 | 50.1 | 52.6 |
| 2019 | 67.8 | 65.4 | 56.9 | § | § |
| 2018 | 66.6 | 64.9 | 56.8 | 48.1 | 49.2 |
| 2017 | 69.7 | 67.3 | 58.0 | 52.7 | 55.1 |
| 2016 | 72.0 | 70.0 | 63.8 | 53.8 | 58.9 |
| 2015 | 70.7 | 68.7 | 61.2 | 52.1 | 53.6 |
| 2014 | 71.0 | 69.2 | 63.0 | 54.3 | 56.7 |
| 2013 | 72.8 | 69.0 | 60.9 | 53.5 | 56.0 |
| 2012 | 76.0 | 72.2 | 63.6 | 56.4 | 60.6 |
| 2011 | 76.5 | 72.7 | 65.0 | 56.1 | 60.6 |
| 2010 | 77.4 | 74.1 | 63.8 | 55.4 | 61.2 |
| 2009 | 76.8 | 72.1 | 60.2 | 54.8 | 60.5 |
| 2008 | 76.1 | 71.4 | 61.7 | 56.5 | 55.5 |
| 2007 | 74.0 | 63.4 | 61.0 | 54.4 | 50.2 |
| 2006 | 75.8 | 68.1 | 57.7 | 56.3 | 58.3 |
| 2005 | 75.9 | 70.7 | 56.8 | 59.4 | 60.1 |
| 2004 | 75.9 | - | 54.9 | 60.7 | - |
| 2003 | 74.4 | - | 56.4 | 60.3 | - |
| 2002 | 73.6 | - | 56.7 | 60.6 | - |
| 2001 | 73.2 | - | 52.2 | 60.6 | - |
| 2000 | 71.2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1999 | 70.1 | - | - | - | - |
§ Not available due to CMS suspension of data reporting during COVID-19 pandemic.
This State of Healthcare Quality Report classifies health plans differently than NCQA’s Quality Compass. HMO corresponds to All LOBs (excluding PPO and EPO) within Quality Compass. PPO corresponds to PPO and EPO within Quality Compass.
Figures do not account for changes in the underlying measure that could break trending. Contact Information Products via my.ncqa.org for analysis that accounts for trend breaks.
References
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2020). Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Retrieved from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt29393/2019NSDUHFFRPDFWHTML/2019NSDU HFFR1PDFW090120.pdf
- Barekatain M, Maracy MR, Rajabi F, Baratian H. (2014). Aftercare services for patients with severe mental disorder: A randomized controlled trial. J Res Med Sci. 19(3):240-5.
- Luxton DD, June JD, Comtois KA. (2013). Can post-discharge follow-up contacts prevent suicide and suicidal behavior? A review of the evidence. Crisis. 34(1):32-41. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000158.
- Glazer, W. (2010). Tackling adherence in the real world. Behavioral Healthcare, 30(3), 28-30.