Everyone can listen in on this meeting. The review group's meeting
will be 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. June 25 via teleconference. Those
interested can call 888-808-6959 and enter conference code 8509227702.

Letters to the editor: letters@news-jrnl.com

Daytona Beach News Journal
Panel to review Medicaid guidelines for antipsychotic drugs
By M.C. MOEWE
Staff Writer

A panel named this month to discuss changing state guidelines on
paying for antipsychotic drugs for children will meet for the first
time June 25.

At stake is the future treatment of more than 18,000 children in
Florida currently receiving atypical antipsychotics medication for
conditions ranging from ADHD to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

The number of children in the Florida Medicaid program prescribed the
powerful drugs has nearly doubled from 9,364 kids in 2000 to 18,137 in
2006, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported in January.

Among those children, the most common primary diagnosis was attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) -- an ailment not approved for
treatment with antipsychotics by the Food and Drug Administration or
by experts on the disease.

Medicaid will pay for a drug only if it is "medically necessary and
prescribed for medically accepted indications," according to current
state guidelines.

Former Florida Agency for Health Care Secretary Dr. Andrew Agwunobi
created the review group in January. The panel's 11 members were
announced this month, and officials said their recommendations will be
presented to the agency's Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Committee
after the June 25 meeting.

Dr. Lisa Cosgrove, a Merritt Island pediatrician who is a member of
the review group and committee, said she will rely on a state-funded
study by the Medicaid Drug Therapy Management Program for Behavioral
Health at the University of South Florida when making recommendations.
"It's a good baseline model to follow," she said.

During that 2005 study, a panel of experts recommended that
antipsychotics (some of these drugs include: Risperdal, Seroquel,
Zyprex, Abilify and Geodon) should not be used primarily to target
ADHD, nor should antipsychotics be given to children younger than age
6 except under the most extraordinary circumstances.

The review group's meeting will be 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. June 25 via
teleconference. Those interested can call 888-808-6959 and enter
conference code 8509227702.

Link to story:
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/EastVolusia/evlEAST07053008...