HMO Depression Treatment
If you or someone in your family is suffering from depression, know you are not alone. Statistically speaking, one in every ten people is clinically depressed. Major depression has a significant impact on a person’s life, career and relationships.
Health care reform is shifting the focus to wellness care and that includes behavior management. Depression is often accompanied by lifestyle problems that affect your overall health, such as drinking, drugs, binge eating or anxiety. HMO depression treatment centers will look to diagnose depression and deal with the bad habits that come with it.
A Little About HMOs
A health management organization falls under the umbrella of managed care insurance programs. Essentially, it is a partnership between health care providers and the company paying the bills. Many of these structured programs offer mental health care or behavioral management.
This doesn’t mean every provider offers services at HMO depression treatment centers. It will depend on your plan and the company that administers it. As the medical community learns more about the biology behind depression disorders, the importance of treatment is becoming clearer, so many mainstream providers do cover it.
Is Inpatient Treatment Necessary for Depression?
This will likely be the deciding factor. Many people suffer depression without ever seeing the inside of HMO depression treatment centers. Most HMOs look to the primary care physician for recommendations regarding specialty treatments. The doctor would have to determine if time at one of the HMO depression treatment centers was medically necessary.
Your HMO insurance will probably suggest outpatient treatment first, such as psychotherapy, and only agree to inpatient care in the most extreme cases where a person is suicidal or in need of heavy sedation. Individuals with recurrent depression problems, such as bipolar disorder, or someone who is suffering a psychotic break might need hospitalization to stabilize their condition. It is likely an HMO would cover inpatient care in these cases.
Your primary care physician is a good place to start when looking for information about depression treatment. The staff can contact the provider to see what is covered and what recommendations are needed for admittance. Your employer’s human resources department may have information regarding behavioral health offerings for HMO members, as well.
People with depression often shy away from getting treatment, but it is important to know that it is out there. Your HMO will most likely offer the help you need to feel better.