Name of the Procedure:

Clinician-to-Clinician Communication for Major Depressive Disorder (G8959)

Summary

This HCPCS procedure code represents the process where a clinician treating a patient with major depressive disorder communicates with another clinician who is managing a co-occurring condition. This is done to ensure coordinated and comprehensive care for the patient.

Purpose

• Medical Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder, Comorbid Conditions (e.g., anxiety, chronic pain, substance abuse)
• Goals: To ensure all healthcare providers involved in the patient's care are informed about the patient's status, treatment plans, and any necessary adjustments to therapy, facilitating better patient outcomes.

Indications

• Patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
• Presence of one or more comorbid conditions.
• The need for coordinated care among multiple healthcare providers.

Preparation

• No specific pre-procedure instructions for the patient.
• Clinicians may need to review patient records and recent assessments before communication.

Procedure Description

1. Initiation: The primary clinician identifies the need for communication with another provider treating a comorbid condition.
2. Information Sharing: Detailed information about the patient’s depressive disorder, current treatment regimen, and any recent changes or considerations is shared.
3. Discussion: Clinicians discuss the patient’s overall health, potential medication interactions, and adjustments to either treatment plan.
4. Documentation: The communication is documented in the patient’s medical record.

• Tools: Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems, secure messaging platforms, telehealth applications.
• Anesthesia/Sedation: Not applicable.

Duration

The process typically takes 10-30 minutes, depending on the complexity of the patient’s conditions.

Setting

The communication can occur in various settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, or via telehealth services.

Personnel

• Primary Clinician: Could be a psychiatrist, psychologist, or primary care physician.
• Secondary Clinician: This might include specialists such as endocrinologists, pain management doctors, or other relevant healthcare providers.

Risks and Complications

• Common Risks: Minimal, primarily related to potential miscommunication.
• Rare Risks: Confidentiality breaches, misunderstandings that could lead to inappropriate treatment adjustments.

Benefits

• Expected Benefits: Improved coordination of care, enhanced treatment outcomes, and reduced risk of adverse interactions or duplications in therapy.
• Realization Time: Benefits are often seen shortly after improved communication, though some may take longer as treatment adjustments are implemented.

Recovery

• Post-Procedure Care: Not applicable.
• Recovery Time: Not applicable.
• Follow-Up: Ongoing communication as necessary to maintain coordinated care.

Alternatives

• Other Options: Independent treatment by each clinician without direct communication, use of centralized case management systems.
• Pros and Cons: Lack of direct communication may lead to fragmented care and potential negative patient outcomes.

Patient Experience

• During Procedure: The patient is typically not directly involved in the inter-clinician communication.
• After Procedure: The patient may experience better-coordinated care, potentially leading to improved health outcomes and satisfaction.
• Pain Management: Not applicable.