I am looking for clarification regarding the Preventative Care and Screening: Screening for Depression and Follow-Up Plan (CMS 2v10) eCQM measure specifications and what would be considered appropriate follow-up to meet the numerator criteria for this measure. In the measure definition of the specification document it states that “Documented follow-up for a positive depression screening must include one or more of the following:
• Referral to a practitioner who is qualified to diagnose and treat depression
• Pharmacological interventions
• Other interventions or follow-up for the diagnosis or treatment of depression”

The guidance section in the measure specification document states:
“The follow-up plan must be related to a positive depression screening, for example: "Patient referred for psychiatric evaluation due to positive depression screening."
Examples of a follow-up plan include but are not limited to:
• Referral to a practitioner or program for further evaluation for depression, for example, referral to a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, mental health counselor, or other mental health service such as family or group therapy, support group, depression management program, or other service for treatment of depression
• Other interventions designed to treat depression such as behavioral health evaluation, psychotherapy, pharmacological interventions, or additional treatment options”

None of these examples include a referral to a primary care provider, however, the guidance specifically states that the options are not are not limited to the examples that are listed. Would a referral to a primary care physician as a follow-up plan for a positive depression screening satisfy the numerator criteria for the Preventative Care and Screening: Screening for Depression and Follow-Up Plan eCQM?