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25-350m Monitor and Guide Members Who are Taking Antidepressant Medication

Date: 04/14/25

Education for members and their families can help increase medication adherence over time

Physicians and other providers play a key role with the member’s antidepressant medication adherence, monitoring treatment effectiveness, and identifying and managing side effects. Discuss the importance of taking the medication as you prescribed or supplementing medication with psychotherapy.

Effective medication treatment of major depression can improve clinical outcomes, reduce medical expenses, and improve a person’s daily functioning. Despite the treatments available for depression, adherence to antidepressant medications remains a significant problem1.

The Antidepressant Medication Management (AMM) quality metric monitors members ages 18 and older with a diagnosis of depression who were treated with an antidepressant medication and remained on the medication for at least 12 weeks and then for at least six months.

Action to monitor treatment effectiveness

Reach out to your newly prescribed members to discuss the importance of adhering to their antidepressant medication for best outcomes. Literature shows that at least 30% of individuals prescribed an antidepressant medication stop adhering to the regimen after their first month2. Below are some ways you can help members:

  • Provide psychoeducation to the member and their family, include how to take the medication, expected side effects, lab work, and talk to the member before stopping any medications.
  • Partner with the Plan, address barriers and refer members to community-based and case management services.
  • Emphasize the importance of proper sleep, support, diet, and exercise to enhance medication effectiveness.
  • Monitor response to treatment with a standardized tool, such as the Patient Healthcare Questionnaire (PHQ-9).
  • Discuss the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline with members and their family.

Take a microlearning to learn more

For more information on the AMM metric and ways to improve antidepressant medication management and antipsychotic medication adherence check out this quick microlearning:

Antidepressant Medication Management and Antipsychotic Medication Adherence: Optimizing the AMM and SAA HEDIS® Measures

Questions?

We appreciate your continuing support and dedication to improving the lives and health of Health Net members. If you have questions, please call the phone number for behavioral health on the member’s identification (ID) card.

1 Continuity Is the Main Challenge in Treating Major Depressive Disorder in Psychiatric Care Tarja K. Melartin, MD; Heikki J. Rytsälä, MD; Ulla S. Leskelä, MA; Paula S. Lestelä-Mielonen, MA; T. Petteri Sokero, MD; and Erkki T. Isometsä, MD, PhD; J Clin Psychiatry 2005;66(2):220-227.
2 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5618693/

 

This information applies to Physicians, Participating Physician Groups (PPGs), and Behavioral Health Providers.



Last Updated: 04/14/2025