Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common behavioral health disorders affecting children. The main features include hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and an inability to sustain attention or concentration. When managed appropriately, ADHD medication can control these symptoms. To ensure that medication is prescribed and managed correctly, it is important that children be monitored by a practitioner with prescribing authority.

Follow-up Care¹ for Children Prescribed ADHD Medication (ADD)

This Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®)² measure assesses children ages 6–12 with a diagnosis of ADHD using two rates.

1. Initiation phase: This is the percentage of patients aged 6–12, with a prescription dispensed for ADHD medication, who had one follow-up visit with a prescribing authority within 30 days.
2. Continuation and maintenance (C&M) phase: This is the percentage of patients aged 6–12 who remained on the medication for at least 210 days and had at least two follow-up visits with a health care provider within 270 days (nine months) after the initiation phase ended.

Tips for working with parents and caregivers to improve medication compliance

• When prescribing a new ADHD medication, schedule the initial follow-up appointment before the patient leaves the office.
• Provide education about medications, including possible side effects and the process of dose adjustments.
• Advise about any possible medication shortage issues and how to navigate refilling medications.
• Outreach by text, email, and call reminders to increase the likeliness that scheduled appointments are kept.
• Explain the importance of follow-up care and the availability of connecting via telehealth, when possible.
• Schedule the initial follow-up visit to occur within 30 days after starting the medication.
• After the initial follow-up visit, schedule at least two more visits over the next nine months to check progress.
• Encourage questions about the ADHD diagnosis or proposed treatment.
• Recommend working with the child’s school for additional support, as appropriate.

About HEDIS

HEDIS is one of health care’s most widely used performance improvement tools. More specifically, it’s a core set of measures that provide an in-depth analysis of the quality of care that health care organizations provide to their customers. Collectively, the 15 unique HEDIS actions for behavioral health help ensure that customers receive affordable quality care when and where they need it most.

Additional resources

For additional information, please refer to the articles and resources below.

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Cigna Healthcare).
• Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents (American Academy of Pediatrics).
• Follow-Up Care for Children Prescribed ADHD Medication (ADD,ADD-E) (National Committee for Quality Assurance [NCQA]).
• HEDIS Measures and Technical Resources (NCQA). See Effectiveness of Care, Behavioral Health.

1   Follow-up care is defined as a subsequent appointment with a qualified health care provider, which helps ensure medication compliance.

2   HEDIS is a registered trademark of the NCQA.