HEDIS® Follow-Up After Hospitalization (FUH) Measure
The HEDIS® Follow-Up After Hospitalization (FUH) measure focuses on continuity of care for patients hospitalized with a mental health diagnosis or intentional self-harm. It evaluates how often patients receive timely follow-up care after discharge, measuring two key rates:
- Follow-up within 7 days of discharge
- Follow-up within 30 days of discharge
Research consistently shows that timely follow-up:
- Decreases hospital readmissions
- Improves medication adherence
- Reduces suicidal ideation
- Supports stabilization and recovery
What’s New for the FUH Measure
A recent update allows follow-up visits to be completed by any qualified healthcare provider – not just behavioral health specialists. Primary care providers (PCPs) can now complete after-care treatment and close the measure.
The Role of Primary Care Providers
PCPs often have established, trusted relationships with patients. After a hospital stay, many patients may feel more comfortable seeing their PCP first, even for a behavioral health-related hospitalization. PCPs can play a key role in:
- Reviewing the inpatient discharge summary and instructions
- Ensuring the hospitalization is documented in the medical record
- Providing timely follow-up contact
- Facilitating referrals to long-term behavioral health providers when needed
Supporting Long-Term Care
Even if the follow-up visit is completed in primary care, it is essential to connect patients with ongoing behavioral health support. In-network behavioral health providers can be found through our online Provider Directory.
For additional details on the FUH measure and other HEDIS measures, please see our HEDIS Quality Measure Reference Guide 2025 available on our website.