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Follow-Up Care for Children Prescribed ADHD Medication

UPMC Health Plan Behavioral Health Services monitors the rates at which children with ADHD that are prescribed medication initiate and continue treatment for this disorder. Follow-up care for children prescribed ADHD medication is a 2 part measure consisting of “initiation,” which is children ages 6 to 12 with an ambulatory prescription for ADHD medication who have one follow up visit with a prescriber in 30 days, and “continuation,” which is children who remained on the medication for 210 days and had 2 additional visits with a practitioner within 270 days after the initiation phase ended.

To monitor these rates we use a standardized national methodology contained in the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS).

For the 2007 calendar year our rate for initiation is 45.28%, which is higher than the national average of 33.68% and the 90th percentile which is 41.96%. Our rate for continuation is 55%.   Comparison data is not yet available for this measure.

Barriers identified for children in regards to initiation and continuation of ADHD treatment may include:

• Parents’ concerns about side effects which results in medication not given consistently
• Parents only giving medication to their children on school days, so the prescription lasts longer

UPMC Health Plan Behavioral Health Services is currently working on developing interventions to improve these rates and will continue to monitor initiation and continuation for children prescribed ADHD medication.

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