July 2018

Texas Health Steps (THSteps) Requirement Update: Mental Health Screening

Beginning July 1, 2018, clients ages 12 to 18 can receive a mental health screening using one or more of the standardized tools allowed by THSteps (procedure codes 96160 or 96161).

The existing tools to be utilized for mental health screening include:

• PSC-17
• PSC-35
• Y-PSC
• PHQ-9
• CRAFFT

The two new added tools include:

• Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) Modified for Adolescents (PHQ-A-Depression Screen)
• Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-A-anxiety, eating problems, mood problems and substance abuse)

Call to Action
Screen your Medicaid patients for behavioral, social and emotional development during their THSteps checkups using the procedure codes referenced above. If needed, refer your patients to the appropriate follow-up care for behavioral health.

Magellan^® Behavioral Health
Magellan Behavioral Health is contracted with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) to provide behavioral health assistance and services. Use the Magellan provider toolkit and call the BCBSTX Provider Services Hotline at 1-877-784-6802 to obtain information about eligibility, benefits, provider network referrals or claim statuses.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) contracts with Magellan Behavioral Health, Inc. (“Magellan”), an independent company, to administer BCBSTX’s managed mental health program.