Reminder: Oklahoma SoonerCare Psychiatric Consultation Program and Hotline Access

August 23, 2010

When residents in Oklahoma require behavioral health care, they typically turn to their primary care providers. (PCPs)  To assist PCPs with advice on psychotropic medication management issues for children, adolescents and adults, SoonerCare provides PCPs with access to free, informal telephone consultations with board-certified psychiatrists through an arrangement with APS Healthcare.

How the Program Helps….

• Reduces unnecessary inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations through the effective management of psychotropic medications.
• Increases knowledge and confidence about medication management through consultation with board-certified psychiatrists.
• Reduces the incidence of medication noncompliance among youth with psychological disorders by providing effective patient education about psychotropic medication.
  Decreases the inappropriate usage of psychotropic medications in members under 21 years of age.  

What the Program Does Not Include…

• Face-to-face psychiatric evaluations
• Forensic evaluations
• Opinions related to custody issues
• Physician-to-physician referrals
• Full psychiatric evaluations by phone  

How the Program Works…

• The SoonerCare PCP contacts the APS Psychiatric Consultation Hotline at 1.877.845.7468 to schedule a consultation appointment. Appointments are available at regularly scheduled times each week.
• A hotline specialist schedules the consultation appointment and sends a meeting invitation to the PCP and the psychiatrist. A board-certified psychiatrist contacts the PCP at the appointed date and time to review the case and provide treatment recommendations.

If you know a PCP who might be interested in utilizing this program, please pass the information along. If the PCP has any questions, encourage a call to the hotline specialist for more information.

Thank you,

Kathy Dalle