June 16, 2015
Children in Pennsylvania’s foster care system were given behavior modification drugs three times more often than kids enrolled in Medicaid, demonstrating widespread problems with overmedication, according to a state report released Tuesday.
Forty-eight percent of kids aged 6 to 18 in Pennsylvania’s foster care system were given psychotropic drugs, which are often used to treat anxiety and ADHD. Sixteen percent of Pennsylvania children enrolled in Medicaid were prescribed the drugs.
“This is concerning, as the majority of these youth did not have another diagnosis that clinically indicated the use of antipsychotics, a medication class with significant side effects,” the report said.
“The research confirms our concerns and shows an unacceptable use of these medications for children in foster care,” said Ted Dallas, secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, in a statement. “The steps we are announcing today are designed to address this disturbing analysis.”
To reduce overmedication, the state will provide consultants who are reachable by telephone to assist physicians with their prescribing practices. In addition, assessment practices will be updated and an “electronic dashboard” will be created to monitor the use of antipsychotics in foster children.
The department will also file public reports based on the “electronic dashboard.”
The report did not recommend discipline for doctors or health professionals who overprescribed.
According to the study by PolicyLab, a research institute associated with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, about half of the children who were given the psychotropic drugs were diagnosed with ADHD. There have been national concerns about the overprescription of medications to foster youth around the country as well as in Pennsylvania.
In addition, a substantial group of children was being given more severe antipsychotic drugs, which are often used to treat schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Twenty-two percent of Pennsylvania’s foster children aged 6 to 18 were given these drugs while only five percent of the children in the Medicaid system were under a similar treatment.
“This is concerning, as the majority of these youth did not have another diagnosis that clinically indicated the use of antipsychotics, a medication class with significant side effects,” the report said.
Prescription trends have decreased somewhat in recent years, the study said.
“The findings indicate that, despite little evidence for antipsychotic treatment for youth with ADHD, these youth receive antipsychotic medications for similar durations as youth with other behavioral health diagnoses and yet, may not be receiving regular behavioral health care,” the report said.
