Provider Notice issued 06/20/07

 Web-Based Training Curriculum for Physicians on Maternal Depression and Social and Emotional Development from Birth to Three

Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) strongly urges all primary care providers to take advantage of two new Web-based training modules.

As part of the Enhancing Developmentally Oriented Primary Care (EDOPC) project, the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP) has developed Web-based training modules on screening for maternal depression in new mothers, and social emotional development of young children. The IAFP has accredited these trainings and has designated 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 credit for each of these educational activities.

Log onto www.iafp.com/education and register free of charge for:

• "Maternal Depression and Child Development: Strategies for Primary Care Physicians"; and
• "Social and Emotional Development: Screening Strategies for Primary Care Providers"

These trainings include an overview of the respective conditions, the use of recommended objective screening tools, and when and to whom a primary care provider should refer a mother or child when concerns about maternal depression, or development or social/emotional health and well being of young children are identified. The trainings also explain proper procedures for billing HFS for the use of screening tools.

In addition to the Web-based training, providers may request onsite training in medical offices, clinics and hospitals. Onsite training is geared toward the entire staff to facilitate a comprehensive team approach to patient care. The onsite training can also address the topics of autism and domestic violence.

If you have questions about the EDOPC project, including how to schedule an office-based presentation, please contact info@edopc.org or 1-888-270-0558.

In addition, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Perinatal Mental Health Consultation Service offers training and consultation services free of charge to Illinois perinatal health care providers serving HFS participants through the UIC Perinatal Mental Health Consultation Line; Perinatal Depression Workshop; and on-site system consultation. For more information, or to request consultation services, schedule a training workshop or schedule an onsite system consultation, call toll-free, 1-800-573-6121 or log on to: www.psych.uic.edu/.

For more information about appropriate coding and reimbursement for developmental or social emotional screening for children, please refer to http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/physicians/2004.html and click on "02-10-04, Billing for Screenings Under the Healthy Kids Program."

For more information about maternal depression screening, please go to http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/mch/ and click on "Provider Notice" as listed under the heading, "Perinatal Depression" (on the lower right hand side of the screen). Please note the medication chart in the notice has been updated and can be viewed by clicking on "Medication Chart" as listed below the "Provider Notice."

More information about the EDOPC project and the provider training available under the project is located at: www.illinoisaap.org/DevelopmentalScreening.htm#overview.

Topics encompassed in the Web-based training are described below.

"Maternal Depression and Child Development: Strategies for Primary Care Physicians" provides training on: 

• The critical role of the primary care providers in identifying mothers at risk for postpartum depression and ensuring that they receive prompt and effective care
• The impacts of maternal depression on the child and the family as well as the behaviors commonly associated with depressed mothers
• Effects of untreated postpartum depression on infants
• The differences between the "Baby Blues" and "Postpartum Depression"
• Postpartum Psychosis and risk factors
• The importance of screening and the tools accepted by HFS which include the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS); the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire (PRIME-MD/PHQ)
• Billing and reimbursement for screening for the HFS population. Information about reimbursement rates is available on our Web Site at: http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/feeschedule
• Treatment modalities and models for treating postpartum depression in primary care
• Use of antidepressants and risk-benefit analysis including effects on infants
• Implementing culturally competent care for patients with postpartum depression
• Comprehensive listing of postpartum depression resources for providers and patients

"Social and Emotional Development: Screening Strategies for Primary Care Providers" provides training for screening children birth to three on: 

• The critical role of the primary care providers in identifying children at risk for social and emotional developmental delays
• Comprehensive explanation of important tasks of social and emotional development in the birth to three populations
• Effects of untreated social and emotional developmental delays
• The importance of screening and the tools accepted by the department
• A comprehensive method on how to conduct a validated screening
• Billing and reimbursement for screening for the HFS population. Information about reimbursement rates is available on our Web site at: http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/feeschedule
• Comprehensive listing of referral sources in each area of the state, including Early Intervention (EI)

Theresa A. Eagleson, Administrator
Division of Medical Programs