Encourage Early and Timely Intervention for Pre-and Post-Partum Care

Communication between Federal Employee Program^® (FEP^®) members and their health care professionals during the patient’s pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and postpartum medical journey is important. Establishing regular appointments and immediately notifying the patient at time of discharge facilitates the completion of the discharge summary, which ensures continuity of care and informs the member of next steps. This is an ongoing process, not a one-time follow-up encounter.

Post-partum visits are recommended to be scheduled before discharge from the hospital. Coordination of care is best achieved when providers help members anticipate and follow through with transitions of care between settings. When providing care, please document the following information in the patient’s chart to help ensure effective coordination and continuity of care:

• Prenatal Visit in First Trimester
  • Prenatal risk assessment including:
    • Diagnosis of pregnancy
    • Complete medical and obstetrical history
    • Physical exam as referenced in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) Form¹
  • Prenatal lab reports
  • Ultrasound
  • Estimated date of delivery (EDD)
  • Documentation of prenatal risk and education/counseling
• Post Postpartum
  • Provider staff calling member within one week after delivery to schedule postpartum follow-up visit
  • Documentation of a postpartum visit on or between 7 to 84 days after delivery
  • Postpartum office visit progress notation documenting comprehensive postpartum exam (may include an evaluation of weight, blood pressure, breast exam, abdominal exam, and pelvic exam)

Thank you for your help in supporting continuity of care and improving quality outcomes for our FEP and other Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) members.

¹ American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology form

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 use 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.