Our member and provider services may be experiencing higher than normal call volumes from 12/22/25-1/9/26 due to a large number of staff being out of office. We encourage you to utilize alternative forms of communication including secured messaging through online Member Services and Availity Essentials Provider Portal.
High call volumes
Member and Provider Services Representatives will be unavailable Thursday, Jan. 1, due to the holiday. We are unable to accept walk-ins on Friday, Jan. 2., due to short staffing.
HEDIS® Tip Sheet
Depression Screening and Follow-Up for Adolescents and Adults (DSF-E)
Line of business: BlueAlliance (Commercial) & BlueAlliance Care+ (Medicaid)
Measure Description
Percentage of Members 12 years of age and older who were screened for clinical depression using a standardized instrument and, if screened positive, received follow-up care.
- Depression Screening: The percentage of members who were screened for clinical depression using a standardized instrument.
- Follow-Up on Positive Screen: The percentage of members who received follow-up care within 30 days of a positive depression screen finding.
Compliance
- Depression Screening: Members with a documented result for depression using an age-appropriate standardized instrument performed between January 1 and December 1 of the measurement period.
- Follow-Up on Positive Screen: Members who received follow-up care within 30 days of a positive depression screen finding.
Population
Members 12 years of age and older as of January 1.
Measurement Period
January 1 – December 31
Notes
Data for screening will come from supplemental data sources. Rates are reported in three age stratifications and a total rate.
- 12-17 years
- 18-64 years
- 65+ years
- Total Rate
The measure requires use of an age-appropriate screening instrument. The patient’s age determines the screening instrument.
If there is a positive screen resulting from a PHQ-2 score, documentation of a negative finding from a PHQ-9 performed on the same day qualifies as evidence of follow-up.
Documentation Requirements
Name of the depression screening tool and result.
Screening Tools
The below screening tools use LOINC codes which require a corresponding result.
Instruments for Adolescents (≤17 years) | Positive Finding |
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)® | Total score ≥10 |
Patient Health Questionnaire Modified for Teens (PHQ-9M)® | Total score ≥10 |
Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2)®1 | Total score ≥3 |
Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS)®1,2 | Total score ≥8 |
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale—Revised (CESD-R) | Total score ≥17 |
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) | Total score ≥10 |
PROMIS Depression | Total score (T score) >60 |
1Brief screening instrument. All other instruments are full-length.
2Proprietary; may be cost or licensing requirement associated with use.
Instruments for Adults (18+ years) | Positive Finding |
| Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)® | Total score ≥10 |
| Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2)®1 | Total score ≥3 |
| Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS)®1,2 | Total score ≥8 |
| Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) | Total score ≥20 |
| Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale—Revised (CESD-R) | Total score ≥17 |
| Duke Anxiety—Depression Scale (DUKE-AD)®2 | Total score ≥30 |
| Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS)1 | Total score ≥5 |
| Geriatric Depression Scale Long Form (GDS) | Total score ≥10 |
| Edinburg Post-Natal Depression Scale (EPDS) | Total score ≥10 |
| My Mood Monitor (M3)® | Total score ≥5 |
| PROMIS Depression | Total score (T Score) ≥60 |
| Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale (CUDOS) | Total score ≥31 |
1Brief screening instrument. All other instruments are full-length.
2Proprietary; may be cost or licensing requirement associated with use.
Documented Follow-Up
- Must occur on or up to 30 days after the first positive screen and may include:
- Outpatient, phone, e-visit or virtual checking with a diagnosis of depression or other behavioral health condition.
- A depression case management encounter that documents assessment for symptoms of depression or a diagnosis of depression or other behavioral health condition.
- A behavioral health encounter, including assessment, therapy, collaborative care or medication management.
- Diagnosis of encounter for exercise counseling (Z71.82).
- A dispensed antidepressant medication.
- OR
- Documentation of additional depression screening on a full-length instrument indicating no depressive symptoms that require follow-up on the same day as a positive screen on a brief screening instrument.
Exclusions
- Members with a history of bipolar disorder any time during the member’s history through the end of the year prior to the measurement year.
- Members with depression that starts during the year prior to the measurement year.
- Members in hospice during the measurement year.
- Members who die any time during the measurement period.
Best Practices
- Use standardized clinical depression screening tools to screen patients and capture the scores and results at least annually.
- For patients who have a history of depression, screen at each visit.
- Screen new moms at their post-partum visit.
- Utilize EMR reporting and patient flags for those in need of screening.
- Schedule patients for follow-up visit at the time a positive screen is identified.
- Educate patients on the importance of follow-up and adhering to treatment recommendations.
Coding Disclaimer
The analysis of any medical coding question related to a measure is dependent on the measure’s technical specifications including the factual situations present related to the member, the practice, the professionals, and the medical services provided.
Questions
Should you have specific coding or other questions related to the measure, please send your questions to BlueAlliance@bcbsnd.com.
NCQA Copyright Notice and Disclaimer
The HEDIS® measures and specifications were developed by and are owned by NCQA. The HEDIS measures and specifications are not clinical guidelines and do not establish a standard of medical care. NCQA makes no representations, warranties, or endorsement about the quality of any organization or physician that uses or reports performance measures and NCQA has no liability to anyone who relies on such measures and specifications. NCQA holds a copyright in these materials and can rescind or alter these materials at any time. These materials may not be modified by anyone other than NCQA. Use of the Rules for Allowable Adjustments of HEDIS to make permitted adjustments of the materials does not constitute a modification. Any commercial use and/or internal or external reproduction, distribution and publication must be approved by NCQA and are subject to a license at the discretion of NCQA. Any use of the materials to identify records or calculate measure results, for example, requires a custom license and may necessitate certification pursuant to NCQA’s Measure Certification Program. Reprinted with permission by NCQA. © [2025] NCQA, all rights reserved.
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Updated 7/16/2025
