August 2022
Behavioral Health Support Resources: Maternity Program for Blue Cross Community Health PlanSM (BCCHPSM) Members
This is the first article in a series to raise awareness of behavioral health resources we make available to our members. We want to do our part to reduce social stigma, promote health equity and emphasize holistic approaches to member health and wellness. We hope you find this information useful when talking with your patients.
One in seven women in Illinois experiences perinatal depression – depression during or after pregnancy.1 The problem is real, and the effects can be devastating. But some patients may not realize when, how or why they should ask for help. They may not recognize warning signs that need to be called to their doctor’s attention.
What are some of the symptoms of depression?
The Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) lists these examples:
- Having a lasting sad, anxious, or ‘empty’ mood
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Feelings of irritability or restlessness
- Loss of energy
- Problems concentrating, recalling details, and making decisions
- Difficulty falling asleep or sleeping too much
- Overeating or loss of appetite
- Suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts
- Aches or pains that do not get better with treatment.
What are the symptoms of postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression symptoms are similar to depression, but may include additional symptoms, such as those listed below. This information from the CDC may be helpful when you’re talking with your patients about what they’re experiencing.
- Crying more often than usual
- Feelings of anger
- Withdrawing from loved ones
- Feeling distant from your baby
- Worrying or feeling overly anxious
- Thinking about hurting yourself or your baby
- Doubting your ability to care for your baby2
Outcomes for both mother and baby may be improved when mothers have access to behavioral health support services during pregnancy and postpartum.3 We want to be sure that OB/GYN physicians and other providers are aware of how to refer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) members to Behavioral Health programs we offer, if appropriate.
Tell Your Patients About Special Beginnings®
Many BCBSIL members – including Blue Cross Community Health PlansSM (BCCHP) members – have access to our Special Beginnings maternity program. This program is offered for members in early pregnancy until 84 days after giving birth. It can help members better understand and manage their health during pregnancy.
Special Beginnings provides personal attention and information new mothers may need to care for themselves and their babies during pregnancy and up to 84 days after giving birth. Program highlights include:
- Videos covering eating habits, exercise, stress and more
- Details about each trimester and the physical and emotional changes in mom and baby
- A list of screenings and vaccines to prepare for checkups
- Program support, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., CT
If you have patients who may be interested in Special Beginnings, they can log on to Blue Access for MembersSM to learn more and enroll in the program. If members prefer to speak to someone, they can call our Care Coordination Team at 888-421-7781. Or they can call our 24/7 Nurseline at 800-345-9049.
What else can you do to help?
When you’re providing pre-/post-natal care to our members, we encourage you to document any signs of depression in the patient’s chart to help ensure effective coordination and continuity of care. If you have any questions about how to refer members to Special Beginnings, call 888-421-7781 to speak to a Care Coordinator. If you have other questions, call the number on the member’s BCBSIL ID card.
Thank you for helping us help our members by encouraging them to talk about behavioral health and by directing them to educational materials and programs.
1CDC, Prevalence of Selected Maternal and Child Health Indicators for Illinois, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), 2016–2020, https://www.cdc.gov/prams/prams-data/mch-indicators/states/pdf/2020/Illinois-PRAMS-MCH-Indicators-508.pdf
2CDC, Reproductive Health, Depression During and After Pregnancy, April 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/features/maternal-depression/index.html
3U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Child and Maternal Health Education Program, Moms’ Mental Health Matters, June 2022, https://www.nichd.nih.gov/ncmhep/initiatives/moms-mental-health-matters/moms
The Behavioral Health program is available only to those members whose health plans include behavioral health benefits through BCBSIL. Some members may not have outpatient behavioral health management. All behavioral health benefits are subject to the terms and conditions as listed in the member’s benefit plan. The information in this article is being provided for educational purposes only and is not the provision of medical care or advice. Physicians and other health care providers are to their own best medical judgment based upon all available information and the condition of the patient in determining the best course of treatment. The fact that a service or treatment is described in this material is not a guarantee that the service or treatment is a covered benefit and members should refer to their certificate of coverage for more details, including benefits, limitations, and exclusions. Regardless of benefits, the final decision about any service or treatment is between the member and their health care provider.