AmeriHealth encourages providers to improve communication between mental health care providers and primary care providers in an effort to promote a cohesive plan of care for patients.

While communication between primary care providers and mental health providers is slowly improving, there continues to be a large percentage of providers, both medical and mental health, who do not communicate concerning patient care. Information that you may find helpful when you contact your patients? mental health care provider includes:

• How is he/she responding to counseling or medication treatment?
• How is this affecting any medical complaints? If there is a chronic illness, does he/she have increased symptoms during times of stress?
• Are there any special considerations regarding medication interactions? Has the patient had any side effects from medications?
• How can you coordinate appropriate tests to be ordered and results monitored?

Physicians must obtain patient consent to exchange patients? personal information and discuss mental health care. Please discuss the importance of having this information for your patients? health and safety. When possible, provide your patients with a consent form they can sign, so they are informed of the information that will be shared and are able to express their written consent.

To obtain a copy of the PCP to Behavioral Health Provider Communication Form, as well as other tools and resources, go to the Worksheets, Forms, and Guides page within the Resources for Patient Management section of our website.