Beacon Health Strategies, LLC (Beacon) today announced the launch of its innovative Psychotropic Drug Intervention Program (PDIP) program. PDIP is designed to improve patients’ safety and health outcomes through education and support for physicians and patients. Based on extensive research and the collective expertise of Beacon’s medical staff and expert advisory panel, PDIP actively promotes evidence-based prescribing practices and member adherence to prescribed medications. Through rigorous analysis of integrated pharmacy, medical and behavioral health utilization data, PDIP identifies opportunities to improve individual and population health outcomes, and to facilitate communication amongst clinicians. PDIP interventions include informational notices and reminders delivered via targeted communication methods to prescribers and members.

“PDIP is deliberately modeled to encourage both patient and provider behaviors that promote optimal health outcomes for patients prescribed psychotropic medications,” said Beacon’s Chief Medical Officer, B.J. Beck, MD. “The interventions are designed to improve medication adherence and coordination of care, both critical components to ensure appropriate utilization of psychotropics.”

PDIP was developed in response to dramatic changes in mental health and substance abuse treatment. Over the last two decades, prescription medications have become an essential component of behavioral health treatment, and when managed effectively, help people live productive lives. However, as these medications are increasingly prescribed by primary care physicians with limited expertise in psychopharmacology, concerns have arisen regarding inappropriate dosage and non-evidence based concurrent use of multiple psychotropics. Moreover, psychotropic medications comprise an ever-growing proportion of health care expenditures, as their costs have risen at a rate four times faster than medical inflation. PDIP offers health plans and governments a solution to address these concerns.

The term, “psychotropic medications,” includes a broad array of medicines for treating mental health and substance abuse conditions such as depression, psychosis, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Available as a stand alone service or integrated with other Beacon services, PDIP will go live on January 1, 2009 with one of Beacon’s Massachusetts based health plan partners.

Founded in 1996, Beacon Health Strategies is a recognized leader in behavioral health care management. Beacon currently serves 2 million members in the Northeast and the District of Columbia, and is growing rapidly. Accredited by both URAC and NCQA, Beacon’s success derives from its unrivaled clinical and administrative expertise, innovative programming and delivery of customized solutions meeting the unique and complex needs of each health plan partner.