Why is antidepressant medication management significant?
Major depression is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States each year. Depression can have a significant negative impact on patients’ health and overall quality of life. Increasing patient’s medication adherence can improve patients’ quality of life and reduces the risk of suicide.
AMM is a NCQA HEDIS measure that aims to improve the quality of care for a patient 18 years of age and older who are diagnosed with major depression and new to antidepressant therapy. Adherence to the antidepressant medication is used as the basis for the measure.
There are two rates reported: Effective Acute Treatment Phase and Effective Continuation treatment Phase.
- Effective Acute Treatment Phase reports patients who remained on an antidepressant medication for at least 84 days (12 weeks)
- Effective Continuation treatment Phase reports patients who remained on an antidepressant medication for at least 180 days (6 months)
Please see the Tips & Considerations for Antidepressant Medication Management below for best practices to help your patients new to antidepressant therapy.
- Convert a patient to a 90-day supply after they are stablized on a dose
- Schedule follow up appointments at the time of prescribing
- Place an extra emphasis on new starts (~1 in 4 members don’t receive 2nd fill)
- Collaborate with other members of the care team (ex: pharmacy)
References
- National Alliance on Mental Illness. 2013. “Major Depression Fact Sheet: What is Major Depression?”
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2012. “Suicide Facts at a Glance 2012.”
- https://www.ncqa.org/hedis/measures/antidepressant-medication-management/
