Yesterday, Wellpoint announced the launch and expansion of its Maternity Depression program, offered by its affiliated health insurance plans, which provides new moms with depression screenings, education and support to help them obtain behavioral health treatment during and post-pregnancy. It is designed to provide information and screening tools to all of its affiliated health plan members who are new or expectant mothers while simultaneously identifying members who are at high risk for depression. If a member needs help she can call to enroll in the program (866-785-2789). Tool kits have also been made available to OB/GYNs and pediatricians, which include CME course material, educational handouts for patients and sample screening tools.
The Maternity Depression Program is currently available to members of affiliated health plans in California (Anthem Blue Cross), Georgia (Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Georgia), Colorado, Nevada, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin and Missouri. It will soon be rolled out to other states.
What I’d like to see is a review of how the program has gone so far in California, where it was first introduced. Is Wellpoint ensuring that the behavioral healthcare providers to which they refer new moms have received specialized training in perinatal mood disorders? Are they educating everyone on the entire spectrum of disorders, and not just PPD? If not, they’re not going far enough to make sure women get the proper treatment. Are they measuring in any way how many physicians are asking for the toolkits? Are they reimbursing those physicians for conducting the screening? Are they covering whatever treatment the specialists recommend? I think it’s great that they’ve taken the step to provide more education and awareness, but I want to understand from a practical viewpoint how these women are actually getting the best care. That’s what is important.
If you’ve been part of the program, let me know. I’d love to hear how it worked for you.
