MDQ Test FAQ for Primary Care Teams

Primary care clinicians keep pinging group chats with the same MDQ questions, so here is a shareable FAQ you can paste into onboarding packets.

How long does it take? Most patients finish in under five minutes. Build it into rooming workflows so medical assistants can start the form while vitals are captured.

Can we bill for it? You cannot bill for the questionnaire alone, but pairing it with 96127 (brief emotional/behavioral assessment) during a visit is common. Check payer policies to confirm whether documentation must include a score and interpretation.

Who reviews the results? Ideally the ordering clinician. If your clinic uses behavioral health care managers, route the form to them first and have them tee up notes for the provider.

Do we need consent? General treatment consent covers it, but let patients know the MDQ is part of their mental health evaluation and will be stored in the chart.

What if someone screens positive? Document the score, explain that it is a screening result, and schedule a dedicated appointment or referral for a diagnostic interview. Add patient education materials to the after visit summary.

Feel free to copy and tweak this FAQ so every new hire gives the same answers without pinging the supervising physician.

Trusted Bipolar & MDQ Resources

• AHRQ evidence review on bipolar disorder care - Summarizes comparative effectiveness findings for medication and therapy choices.
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance fact sheet - Peer-led perspective on recognizing mood shifts and supporting self-advocacy.
• WHO bipolar disorder fact sheet - Global public-health data on prevalence, disability impact, and treatment gaps.