Behavioral Health Identification, Treatment and Referral in Primary Care-Part Three: Behavioral Health Treatment for Children and Adolescents

Activity description

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders affecting children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guidelines provide recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of children with ADHD. This activity will focus on the use of screening tools that aid in assessment; treatment modalities, including medication and alternative therapies; strategies for family support; best practices; and the impact of untreated and undertreated ADHD. 

Antipsychotic medication is too often prescribed to treat aggression and behavioral disorders in children. Psychosocial treatment should be the first intervention prescribed. For children and adolescents on antipsychotic medication, baseline and annual metabolic monitoring is recommended. 

HEDIS measures related to behavioral health treatment for children and adolescents with ADHD will be discussed. This activity shall also review the assessment and treatment of childhood behavioral disturbances with a focus on appropriate antipsychotic medication prescribing. 

Provided by
This activity is jointly provided by OptumHealth Education, Optum Behavioral Health and UnitedHealthcare, Employer & Individual.

Commercial support
There was no commercial support received for this activity.

Required hardware/software
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Target Audience

This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of primary care physicians, PAs, nurses, and nurse practitioners who are interested in learning about pertinent topics in behavioral health, including the screening, referral, diagnosis, and treatment for ADHD, along with the related aspects of HEDIS measures.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

  • Discuss the treatment modalities for ADHD, including psychosocial, educational and medical interventions.
  • Perform the recommended follow-up care for children on stimulant medication.
  • Perform the recommended annual metabolic monitoring tests for children on antipsychotic medication.
  • Describe the screening tools used to aid in the assessment for ADHD.
  • Explain the impact of untreated and undertreated ADHD.
  • List the HEDIS® measures related to ADHD and antipsychotic medication for children.

Additional Information

Activity summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA - Physicians
  • 1.00 ANCC - Nurses
  • 1.00 Attendance - General Attendance
Activity opens: 
02/14/2022
Activity expires: 
02/14/2025
Rating: 
0

  Presenters

Robin K. Blitz, MD
Medical Director
Family Engagement Center / Special Needs Initiative
UnitedHealthcare
Debra M. Katz, MD
Senior National Medical Director
Optum Behavioral Health


About the presenters
Dr. Robin Blitz is a board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatrician and is a medical director for the Special Needs Initiative at UnitedHealthcare. Dr. Blitz also has an appointment as clinical associate professor in the department of child health at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. She earned her medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Children's National Medical Center, in Washington, D.C., followed by a fellowship in developmental-behavioral pediatrics at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Debra Katz is a Senior National Medical Director for Behavioral Health at Optum. Her areas of expertise include Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and mental health care for special populations. She has expertise in the area of providing health care to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Serious Mental Illness. Prior to taking on her current role, Dr. Katz served as Regional Medical Director for Optum’s public sector behavioral health programs managed out of the Houston Care Advocacy Center. She joined OHBS (formerly UBH) in 2004. Before that she worked as the Medical Director for Child and Adolescent Services at the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority (MHMRA) of Harris County, TX. Dr. Katz holds both a Bachelor of Science degree and a Medical Degree from The George Washington University in Washington, DC. She also has specialty certifications in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from The Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Katz is a licensed physician in the states of Texas and Florida.

Activity planners
Rebecca Gleason, RN, CCM
Activity Manager
OptumHealth Education
Eden Prairie, MN

Valerie Peszka, MS
Director, Quality Improvement
Optum Behavioral Health

Rebecca L. Roberts Martin, Ph.D., LPCC-S
Manager, Clinical Quality Improvement–Ohio, Michigan
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Optum Behavioral Health

Disclosures of relevant financial relationships
In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education's (ACCME) Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, OptumHealth Education (OHE) requires all those in control of educational content to disclose their financial relationships with ineligible companies within the prior 24 months. Ineligible companies are defined by the ACCME as companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care products used by or on patients. Individuals must disclose all financial relationships, regardless of the amount, with ineligible companies and regardless of their view of the relevance of the relationship to the education. OHE ensures that the content is independent of commercial bias.

The activity planners and presenters have no financial relationships to disclose.

Method for calculating CE credit
CE credit was calculated by the complexity of content.

Accreditation statement
Joint Accreditation LogoIn support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by OptumHealth Education, Optum Behavioral Health and UnitedHealthcare, Employer & Individual. OptumHealth Education is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the health care team.


Credit designation statements

Nurses
The participant will be awarded up to 1.00 contact hour(s) of credit for attendance and completion of supplemental materials.

Nurse practitioners
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.

Physicians
OptumHealth Education designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

PAs
The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

Attendance
A certificate of attendance will be provided to learners upon completion of activity requirements, enabling participants to register with licensing boards or associations that have not been preapproved for credits. To apply for credit types not listed above, participants should use the procedure established by the specific organization from which they wish to obtain credit.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA - Physicians
  • 1.00 ANCC - Nurses
  • 1.00 Attendance - General Attendance
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