Important Preventive Schedule Updates for 2020

Whether our members need a regular physical or an important health screening, Highmark wants to help them get the most out of their preventive care benefits.

That’s why we maintain a Preventive Schedule* of services to help members stay as healthy as possible.

By publishing the schedule on the Provider Resource Center (PRC), we make it easy for you and your patient care staff to keep up with these recommendations as we work to keep our members healthy.

We revise and update our Preventive Schedule and Preventive Health Guidelines** periodically to ensure that they reflect the latest evidence-based, nationally recommended clinical guidelines for care. Some of these changes simply clarify certain guidelines, so they are clear and understandable.

Please note the following important update which will take effect Jan. 1, 2020:

Depression Prevention Counseling for Pregnant and Postpartum Women

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends depression prevention counseling for pregnant and postpartum women at risk of developing depression.

These women would not currently have a diagnosis for depression, but may have a history of depression. The counseling may be obtained from in-network primary care providers or behavioral health specialists.

Although there is no current screening tool to identify risk of developing depression; however, there are risk factors to look for in determining if the counseling would be beneficial.

Learn more about these risk factors and recommendations .

For the Current Guidelines

To access the guidelines, visit the PRC via NaviNet® or under Helpful Links on our main website. On the PRC, choose Education/Manuals and Preventive Health Guidelines.

We encourage you to consult our Preventive Health Guidelines when planning care for your patients with Highmark coverage, and we thank you for your commitment to addressing their health needs.

*Please note that most, but not all, of our customer groups follow the Highmark Preventive Schedule, meaning not all members may have coverage for services on the schedule. Therefore, when providing services for our members, please remember to check members’ benefits via NaviNet or by using the appropriate HIPAA electronic transactions to determine if services are covered and if any associated member cost sharing applies. (If you do not have access to NaviNet, please call Provider Service to obtain benefits and eligibility information.)

**These guidelines are for information only. The physician or other health professional will advise the member of the applicable guidelines and any related advice, testing, diagnosis, or treatment. Health plan coverage is subject to the terms of the member’s health plan benefit agreement.

 

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