Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri is promoting the value of postpartum depression screening programs.[@@]
Missouri Blue, St. Louis, introduced a program in 2003 that uses questionnaires to identify mothers of newborns who need extra support from counselors and other professionals.
About 10% of women suffer from depression within 6 months after giving birth, and Missouri Blue decided to start its screening program after learning that fewer than half of members who were suffering from postpartum depression were receiving treatment, according to company executives.
About 97% of the program participants who suffered from postpartum depression said they believed the program was beneficial, Missouri Blue says.
Missouri Blue is a unit of WellPoint Inc., Indianapolis.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.