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HEDIS® Tip Sheet

Follow-Up After Hospitalization for Mental Illness (FUH)

Measure Description

Percentage of members 6 years of age and older who were discharged after hospitalization for treatment of selected mental illness or intentional self-harm diagnoses and who had a follow-up visit with a mental health provider, or with any practitioner for any diagnosis of a mental health disorder.

Two rates reported for this measure:

  • Percentage of discharges for members who received follow-up within 30 days of discharge.
  • Percentage of discharges for members who received follow-up within 7 days of discharge.
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Compliance for 7-Day and 30-Day Follow-Up

  • Outpatient visit.
  • An intensive outpatient visit or partial hospitalization.
  • A community mental health center visit.
  • Electroconvulsive therapy.
  • Telehealth visit.
  • Transitional care management services.
  • A visit in a behavioral healthcare setting.
  • Telephone visit.
  • Psychiatric collaborative care management.
  • Peer support services.
  • Psychiatric residential treatment.
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Notes

  • The denominator is based on acute inpatient discharges for a principal diagnosis of mental illness or any diagnosis of intentional self-harm.  
  • Acute readmissions or direct transfers during the 30-day follow-up period count only the last discharge.
  • Follow up visits that occur on the same day as discharge do not count toward measure compliance.
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Exclusions

  • Exclude discharges followed by readmission or direct transfer to a nonacute inpatient care setting (except for psychiatric residential treatment) within the 30-day follow-up period, regardless of the diagnosis for the readmission.
  • Members in hospice during the measurement year.
  • Members who died during the measurement year. 
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Best Practices

  • Utilize EMR and internal reports to identify patients in need of follow-up visits and support timely outreach and referral coordination.
  • Schedule follow up visits as soon as possible after discharge and educate patients by utilizing teach back methods to reinforce the importance of attending appointments.
  • Involve caregivers, when appropriate, to help with understanding discharge and follow-up instructions.
  • Establish outreach processes, such as case management, to encourage follow-up appointments or assist with re-scheduling missed appointments.
  • Help patients connect with behavioral health providers in a timely manner.
  • Educate patients on the importance of follow-up care and adherence to treatment recommendations.
  • Refer patients to appropriate community resources for support when applicable.

Coding and Benefits Disclaimer

Providers and organizations must submit accurate and complete data in accordance with all billing, coding, and medical policy requirements. HEDIS guidance does not override official coding standards or guarantee reimbursement, as coverage is subject to applicable medical/coding policy and member-specific benefits.

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.

HEDIS® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Updated 8/28/2026