40280382-5971-4eed-015a-05ec53bb2fc6Bipolar Disorder and Major Depression: Appraisal for alcohol or chemical substance useCMS169169b99aaef6-7889-4aba-85fc-5a2b739dd0986.0.0000000010100001231Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)Center for Quality Assessment & Improvement in Mental Health (CQAIMH)Percentage of patients with depression or bipolar disorder with evidence of an initial assessment that includes an appraisal for alcohol or chemical substance useThis measure is copyrighted by CQAIMH. It may be used for research, teaching, and quality measurement / improvement activities - provided the following:
* The materials are not sold, distributed or licensed for commercial purposes
* CQAIMH's copyright is acknowledged in reproductions of these materials
* Modifications to the materials are not made without CQAIMH's permissionThis measure is an initial eSpecification of the endorsed measure, and has not been field tested. CMS has contracted with Mathematica Policy Research and its subcontractors, Lantana and Telligen, for the continued maintenance of this electronic measure.ProportionProcessNoneNoneNoneIndividuals with bipolar disorder or major depression have high rates of co-morbid substance abuse and should be screened for substance use disorders. Between 40-70% of people with bipolar disorder have a history of substance use disorder. A current or past co-morbid substance use disorder may lead to worse outcomes for bipolar disorders, including more symptoms, more suicide attempts, longer episodes and lower quality of life. Substance abuse may obscure or exacerbate mood swings that have no other apparent external cause. Substance abuse may also precipitate mood episodes or be used by patients to self-treat in an attempt to improve the symptoms of episodes. Patients suffering from major depressive disorder with co-morbid addiction are more likely to require hospitalization, more likely to attempt suicide and less likely to comply with treatment than are patients with these disorders of similar severity not complicated by these factors.Perform a diagnostic evaluation to assess the presence of an alcohol or substance use disorder or other factors that may contribute to the disease process or complicate its treatment. A complete diagnosis of depression should address history of substance use and treatment for substance use disorders.Higher score indicates better qualityOstacher, MJ; Sachs, GS, Update on Bipolar Disorder and Substance Abuse: Recent Findings and Treatment Strategies, J Clin Psychiatry 2006; 67[9]:e10.Regier DA, Farmer ME, Rae DS, et al. Comorbidity of mental disorders with alcohol and other drug abuse: results from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) Study, JAMA 1990; 264:2511-1518.American Psychiatric Association, Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Bipolar Disorder, Am J Psychiatry 159: 4, April 2002 Supplement.American Psychiatric Association, Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder (2000).NoneThe intent of the measure is that the assessment be performed for a single episode for each patient. Due to current limitations of the eMeasure specification system, it is possible for there to be up to two treatment episodes per patient, identified through up to two index episodes. As a result, the numerator criteria of this measure can be satisfied if a substance use assessment is performed within either treatment episode. Future versions of the measure should address this issue.
A BH Outpatient Psychotherapy encounter meets the intent of both an encounter and a treatment.TBDPatients 18 years of age or older at the start of the measurement period with a new diagnosis of unipolar depression or bipolar disorder during the first 323 days of the measurement period, and evidence of treatment for unipolar depression or bipolar disorder within 42 days of diagnosis. The existence of a 'new diagnosis' is established by the absence of diagnoses and treatments of unipolar depression or bipolar disorder during the 180 days prior to the diagnosis.Equals Initial PopulationNonePatients in the denominator with evidence of an assessment for alcohol or other substance use following or concurrent with the new diagnosis, and prior to or concurrent with the initiation of treatment for that diagnosisNot ApplicableNoneFor every patient evaluated by this measure also identify payer, race, ethnicity, and sexNone