Relevant Screening
Increase depression screenings
Mental illness can be hard to identify. Especially among certain patient populations. Increasing the use of depression screeners can make it easier to provide your patients with the support they need.
Why screening matters
Why screening matters
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the U.S., and is the leading cause of disability in those ages 15 and older. In primary care, 10-14% of patients are estimated to have major depressive disorder (MDD), though as many as 50% of those go undetected.*
Racial and ethnic minorities and other groups, including men, people over 75 years of age, LGBTQ individuals and uninsured patients often suffer from poor mental health outcomes. This is due to multiple factors, including lack of access to quality mental health care services, cultural stigma surrounding mental health care, discrimination and overall lack of awareness about mental health.* Screening early and often helps increase awareness, reduce stigma and improve outcomes.
Resources
There are several ways you can help your patients find the support they need.
Provider referral directory
You can search for mental health providers by ZIP code, city, state or county.
Virtual mental health care
You can help patients connect with care they can access when it’s convenient for them.
Patient resources
You can share these helpful resources with patients and their loved ones.
Types of assessments available
There isn’t a one size fits all solution for implementing depression screeners. That’s why we’ve gathered publicly accessible, culturally relevant resources, tools and training to help you facilitate mental health screenings with your patients.
Patient Health Questionnaire (PQH) screeners
Offer clinicians concise, self-administered screening and diagnostic tools that have been field-tested in office practice.
Duke Anxiety Depression Scale (DUKE-AD)
Seven-item patient survey from the Duke Health Profile used to identify patients with anxiety and depression symptoms.
Duke Anxiety Depression Scale (PDF)
M3 Assessment
Three-minute checklist designed to measure mental well-being, looking for common symptoms of depression, bipolar, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders.
Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
Twenty-question survey that asks how often patients have experienced symptoms related to depression over the past seven days.
Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (PDF)
PROMIS depression scale
Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. Measures health outcomes from the patient perspective. Covers patients ages 18 and older, pediatric self-reports ages 8 – 17, and parents representing their children ages 5 – 17.
Geriatric depression scale (GDS)
Simple 30-item yes/no questionnaire that can help identify possible depression among elderly patients.
Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS)
Developed to assist professionals in detecting post-partum depression (PPD) in mothers.
CPT codes for depression screeners
You can be reimbursed for using depression screeners. Below for a list of the codes you’ll need to ensure timely payment for the claims you submit.
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LOINC Code |
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CPT code 96127 For conducting brief emotional and behavioral assessments performed with standardized instruments. |
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CPT code 96127 For administering screenings such as the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 item (PHQ-9). Can be used as part of initial screening or as a method of monitoring. |
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CPT code G0444 Annual depression screening for Medicare patients. |
Relevant Screening |
CPT code 96127 For conducting brief emotional and behavioral assessments performed with standardized instruments. |
|---|---|
LOINC Code |
|
Relevant Screening |
CPT code 96127 For administering screenings such as the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 item (PHQ-9). Can be used as part of initial screening or as a method of monitoring. |
LOINC Code |
|
Relevant Screening |
CPT code G0444 Annual depression screening for Medicare patients. |
LOINC Code |
Notes
*FOR 10-14% AND 50% SOURCE: National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine. Improving Depression Screening in Primary Care: A Quality Improvement Initiative. Accessed August 1, 2023.
*FOR POOR OUTCOMES SOURCE: National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health and Mental Health Care During The COVID-19 Pandemic. Accessed August 1, 2023.
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This material is for information only. Health information programs provide general health information and are not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a physician or other health care professional. Information is believed to be accurate as of the production date; however, it is subject to change.
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