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Aetna Behavioral Health provides members with access to a multi-disciplinary network of health care professionals that includes psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, clinical counselors and certified addiction counselors. The network also includes intensive outpatient and other alternative settings, where qualified programs are available.

To find out which health care professionals participate in the Aetna Behavioral Health network, visit DocFind, our online directory. Please be sure to select the plan type that you are interested in.

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AetnaDepression Management

Depression is a common illness that affects up to 10 percent of the population and can last weeks, months or even years if not treated properly. To help manage this condition, Aetna Depression Management provides a dedicated care planner to coordinate the efforts of primary care physicians and mental health specialists in identifying and treating depression. Once identified and enrolled in the program, you will receive educational materials and individualized care management, with an emphasis on appropriate treatment and adherence.

Identifying depression in the primary care setting is a quick and simple process. Primary care physicians will ask you two questions to determine if you have any possible signs of depression. Based on your response, the physician may choose to ask a series of additional questions called the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 is an effective tool used to identify and assess depression and will provide the physician with the information needed to determine if treatment is necessary.

The treatment of depression varies from person to person. Aetna Depression Management provides:

• Tools to assist primary care physicians in the identification and treatment of depression
• Access to mental health specialists for consultation
• A dedicated care planner to assist in the coordination of care
• Educational support tools to help you manage depression

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The Depression Disease Management Program is currently available for fully insured and self-insured HMO members who have both Aetna medical and behavioral health benefits. Starting in January 2005, the program will be available for self-insured PPO members when offered as part of their employer benefits in two situations: (1) when a member is covered by both Aetna’s medical and behavioral health benefits, or (2) when a member is covered only by Aetna behavioral health benefits.

The Depression Disease Management Program consists of the following components:

• A self-assessment — Identifying depression and other health disorders occurring at the same time.
• Educational information — Available on the website, by telephone using an interactive voice response system (in English and Spanish), and through mailings.
• Online services and decision-support tools — Related to depression and its treatment.
• Telephonic outreach — A team of case management clinicians who may contact you via telephone.
• A team approach — Includes pharmacy, primary care physicians and behavioral health professionals.

You may be recommended for Aetna's Depression Disease Management Program for the following reasons:

• You have been admitted for inpatient psychiatric diagnosis of major depression, dysthymia, depression not otherwise specified or bipolar depression.
• You receive outpatient treatment for one of the above diagnoses.
• Pharmacy data indicates that you are not using your antidepressants appropriately.
• Your primary care physician refers you to the program.

Aetna's Depression Disease Management Program will help you to access providers to get the treatment you need when you need it, and will help you to better understand your pharmacy benefits, allowing you to take antidepressant medications in a cost-efficient and effective manner.

This program now includes alcohol disease management and anxiety disorders.

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To help providers address the needs of members who have both medical and behavioral health conditions, we have established the Medical Psychiatric Case Management program. This program is also available to self-insured PPO members when offered as part of their employer benefits in two situations: (1) when a member is covered by both Aetna’s medical and behavioral health benefits or (2) when a member is covered only by Aetna behavioral health benefits.

This program evaluates members with certain medical conditions to determine if they also have any behavioral health issues. Examples include an alcohol-dependent member with diabetes who is currently drinking; a member with multiple medical problems, including depression, who is overwhelmed and not able to comply with treatment; or a disabled member who is in psychological distress but cannot get to therapy.

Members who have behavioral heath issues and agree to a referral will be assigned a medical psychiatric case manager. Case managers work as your "team leader" in that they assess your needs, arrange for your treatment and help to coordinate any other services. This case management plan includes behavioral health services, as well as medical care.

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Aetna's tagline, We want you to know^SM, has special relevance in behavioral health care. We want to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health issues by helping you to understand the benefits of behavioral health services and by offering sensitive guidance when you call us.

We're here to help.