Thank you for your inquiry regarding CMS2v13 Preventive Care and Screening: Screening for Depression and Follow-Up Plan. Diagnosis codes are not evaluated when calculating to see if the numerator was met. The numerator logic first looks to see if a depression screening was done as evidenced by documentation of one of two LOINC codes which represent the actual screening: 73831-0 “Adolescent depression screening assessment” or 73832-8 “Adult depression screening assessment”. If the screening has a positive finding, this is evidenced by documentation of SNOMEDCT code "Depression screening positive (finding)". A diagnosis of depression is not required; the documentation of the positive screening test finding alone meets the intent. Similarly, diagnosis codes are not required when evaluating to see if the follow up plan was completed. There are multiple ways to satisfy the requirements for the follow up plan, none which requires a depression diagnosis code. For example, a follow up plan can include an order for antidepressant medication, referral to a provider or program for further evaluation of depression, or other interventions designed to treat depression. Please refer to the Guidance section of the measure specification for more examples of follow up plans. Thank you.

I have a clinic wanting to know if CMS has a list of diagnosis codes acceptable for CMS 2 Depression screening & follow-up. Does screening for depression work? No where on the specifications does it state acceptable dx’s only those to exclude a patient. Does that mean any depression codes work? A practice would like to know the list of Dx's codes that are acceptable to complete the follow up piece for this measure.