Study reveals members who had mental health diagnosis show improved outcomes

Jan 8 2010

A recent study by Aetna (NYSE:AET) Disability and Absence management of disability members who also had a mental health diagnosis showed that members spent an average of seven fewer days on disability when compared to an industry benchmark.

The Aetna Disability program is unique among disability providers in that it contains its own centralized Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) staffed with licensed behavioral health clinicians. Professionals with experience in the behavioral health field are better able to manage the clinical aspects of psychiatric disability claims, promoting prompt case resolution and improved patient outcomes.

“Our goal is to identify those suffering with mental health disorders early and assist them through the disability process. For us the emphasis is not just returning members to work, but returning them to optimal health – both physically and mentally.”

“Many behavioral health conditions are common and treatable disorders,” said Adele Spallone, LMHC, LMFT, head of Clinical Services for Aetna Disability and Absence Management. “Our goal is to identify those suffering with mental health disorders early and assist them through the disability process. For us the emphasis is not just returning members to work, but returning them to optimal health – both physically and mentally.”

Depression is the second leading cause of disability worldwide according to the World Health Organization. Mental health disorders are the third most expensive economic burden of illness to employers in the United States, according to a 2004 report by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Aetna’s study assessed short-term disability claims for 15 mental health disorders. The largest improvement over the industry benchmark occurred for people with Depressive Disorder NOS (Not Otherwise Specified), Major Depression (Recurrent), Adjustment Reaction and Dysthymic Disorder, a chronic form of depression.

Aetna’s Disability Behavioral Health Unit was designed to address the high volume and complexity of psychiatric and psychological disabilities. Claims accepted by this unit have a mental health diagnosis or psychiatric component that may impact the claimant’s health recovery and ability to return to work. The mental health diagnosis can be the primary or secondary diagnosis or a psychosocial component, which may impact the disability claim. Using proactive member and provider outreach strategies and tracking clinical progress, clinicians are able to engage members and physicians more fully in both care and rehabilitation. The integration of behavioral health knowledge and disability case management, along with proactive outreach and member engagement, has been shown to result in earlier intervention, an increase in coordination of services, and faster, appropriate claim resolution.

Source: Aetna