Resources
PeriPAN General Questions
What is the Perinatal Psychiatry Access Network (PeriPAN)?
PeriPAN is a free and trusted state-funded program for clinicians who treat pregnant and postpartum mothers with mental health concerns. PeriPAN offers clinician-to-clinician consultations related to specific patient concerns or general questions, care coordination, and training to help clinicians identify and treat mental health issues.
Why do I need PeriPAN?
Maternal mental health conditions affect 1 in 5 perinatal women and are the leading underlying cause of pregnancy-related death in the United States. Patients who get treatment can and do recover, and collaborative care is a best practice. PeriPAN offers support, education and rapid peer consultation to help providers expand their capacity and provide the standard of care perinatal patients need.
How do I enroll in PeriPAN?
Clinicians or clinic administrators can call 888-901-2726. and enroll within five minutes. Clinic administrators can also enroll multiple clinicians at once.
Who should call PeriPAN?
PeriPAN is available to clinicians who screen or provide care to patients in the prenatal, perinatal,
birthing and postpartum periods, including:
• Ob/gyns.
• Pediatricians.
• Family practice clinicians.
• Psychiatrists.
• Psychologists.
• Midwives.
• Other primary care physicians.
• Nurses and other clinicians.
What can I use PeriPAN for?
PeriPAN provides the following support:
• Real-time, patient-care consultations with reproductive mental health clinicians.
• Vetted and patient-specific resources and referrals within one business day.
• Free continuing medical education (CME) and other learning opportunities.
How does PeriPAN work?
• Call PeriPAN at 888-901-2726 when you have a mental health question about a patient.
• Speak directly with a mental health clinician to assess and address the query, or PeriPAN will call you back within five minutes.
• For screening, diagnostic or medication questions, a reproductive psychiatrist will call back within 30 minutes, or they can schedule a callback at a more preferred time.
• For referral or resource questions, a mental health specialist can assist and provide clinicians with a vetted list within one business day.
• To learn more about treating mental health concerns among perinatal patients, participate in one of PeriPAN’s frequent and free CMEs.
How can I keep up with current PeriPAN program offerings, CMEs and mental health news?
PeriPAN regularly offers free CMEs, Project ECHO collaborative learning opportunities and mental and behavioral health news and resources for clinicians. This includes free half- or one-hour ethics CMEs for clinicians’ teams. Visit the Texas PeriPAN website to learn more.
Who provides PeriPAN services?
PeriPAN a system of 12 hubs located at academic, health-related institutions across Texas working together to provide peer-to-peer telemedicine-based consultations to clinicians. Dedicated reproductive mental health professionals can help with any questions or resource referrals a provider requests so they can better support the mental health needs of their patients.
PeriPAN Cost and Billing Questions
How much does PeriPAN cost to use?
PeriPAN is state-funded, so there is no cost to clinicians or families.
Can I bill my time for reimbursement when I use PeriPAN?
Yes. Calling PeriPAN is justification to document increased time or complexity-based coding.
Can I refer my patient to PeriPAN for direct mental health services?
PeriPAN is a clinician-to-clinician consultation service and does not offer ongoing direct mental health care to patients. During a clinician-to-clinician consultation, you and the reproductive psychiatrist may decide that a one-time direct assessment of the patient will assist in diagnostic clarification and/or treatment planning. PeriPAN will provide this one-time assessment, and you will remain the ongoing health care clinician for the patient.
PeriPAN Contact Questions
How do I contact PeriPAN?
Follow the instructions on the Contact Us page of this website, or call 888-901-2726 and follow the prompts for direct routing to your regional team for psychiatry consultation, referrals and resources. You can also email the statewide Texas PeriPAN team by filling out the contact form on the Texas PeriPAN website.
What times can I call PeriPAN for help?
PeriPAN staff Staff are live on the phones Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., except for institutional holidays such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. Providers can also leave a message on our secure voicemail system outside of open hours and receive a callback the next business day.
Note that PeriPAN is not a crisis line. If your patient is in crisis, call 988 instead.
What information do you need from me when I call?
Please include the following:
• The reason for the call.
• The patient’s name or initials, date of birth, race, ethnicity, insurance information (if applicable), medical/patient record number (so PeriPAN staff can reference the patient in future calls) and patient’s ZIP code (for local provider referrals).
• Provider phone and/or fax number and email for sending referrals and resources.