Medical and Behavioral Health Coordination
Communication Between Medical and Behavioral Health Practitioners
UniCare monitors the continuity and coordination of care between independently contracted medical and behavioral health practitioners, and requires the timely, effective, and confidential exchange of information between behavioral health practitioners and primary care practitioners. The member's privacy is protected at all times during this monitoring process.
If and when you refer patients for a behavioral health consultation and/or treatment, or if you are aware that any of your patients have self-referred to a behavioral health practitioner, please consider discussing with your patients the importance of the exchange of clinical information between yourself and their behavioral health practitioner. The member will need to sign a release of information form allowing this information exchange to occur.
Coordination of Care for Coexisting Medical and Behavioral Disorders
UniCare HMO (Illinois and Indiana only) partners with Magellan Behavioral Health to promote the appropriate screening and management of patients with coexisting medical and behavioral disorders. Behavioral health consultation is available through the Magellan network of behavioral health practitioners for medical or surgical inpatients who have a secondary or tertiary mental health or substance abuse diagnosis. Magellan behavioral health practitioners are always available for consultation and referral. If a covered HMO plan member under your care needs to access mental health or chemical dependency services, you may call Magellan Behavioral Health Care (MBHC) at 800-746-6294, or you can advise the HMO member to call MBHC directly at 800-746-6294.
