Pass the word! Florida is now requesting written testimony on the
issue of antipsychotics and children until July 2, 2008. Only 6 more
days left!
Whether you are from Florida or not, if you are an expert on this
issue or a health care professional please send your written testimony
to Ann Wells.
Parents whose children have been adversely affected by antipsychotic
drugs such as Abilify, Geodon, Risperdal, Seroquel or Zyprexa -
please send Ann Wells your written testimony.
If you know any elderly or anyone who has been adversely effected by
these drugs - please have them send their written testimony to:
Ann Wells
Agency for Health Care Administration
Bureau of Pharmacy
2727 Mahan Drive Mail Stop 38
Tallahassee, Fl 32308
or e-mail Ann Wells here: wellsa@
ahca.myflorida.com
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The application of Florida Medicaid rules to antipsychotic drugs for
children mentioned in the below article can be found here:
http://www.psychsearch.net/atypicals.html
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Letters to the editor: HeraldEd@
MiamiHerald.com
Miami Herald
State may limit paying for some kids drugs
The state's healthcare agency is considering limiting payments for
strong drugs prescribed to young children for illnesses such as autism
and bipolar disorder.
Thu, Jun. 26, 2008
BY GARY FINEOUT
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida's massive healthcare agency may cut back on
paying for powerful drugs now prescribed for young children, although
a final decision could be weeks or months away.
Since late April, the Agency for Health Care Administration has
required doctors to obtain permission before the state's Medicaid
program will pay for drugs prescribed to children under the age of six
for autism, bipolar disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder. Any new prescriptions must be evaluated by psychiatrists at
the University of South Florida in Tampa.
The reason for the change: the increase in the number of children
prescribed the drugs in the past several years, especially since the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not recommend anymore the use
of what are known as ''atypical antipsychotic'' drugs in young
children. Previous published reports have said that the number of
children in Medicaid getting such drugs has grown from more than 9,000
kids in 2000 to more than 18,000 in 2006.
A state panel met Wednesday to consider whether Florida should craft a
more detailed policy to decide when it should pay for such drugs. The
meeting drew a smattering of attendance, in person and on the phone,
including a representative of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights,
an offshoot of the Church of Scientology, who said the state was
violating its own rules by paying for drugs not recommended by the
FDA. [audio testimony here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JazYVUKI7yA ]
Dr. Jerome Isaac, a Bradenton pediatrician on the panel, questioned
whether the state was pushing the issue to save money, saying that
Medicaid should pay for a medication if it is recommended by a doctor.
''I see this as a cost-containment measure by putting obstacles in the
way of physicians,'' Isaac said.
Others on the panel disagreed, saying that at a minimum the state
should consider refusing to pay for any new prescriptions unless the
child has previously been evaluated by a psychiatrist.
Anne Wells, the Medicaid Pharmacy Services bureau chief, said state
officials were ''parents'' and ''pharmacists'' and that the right
policy for children is a ``bigger issue than cost containment.''
Link to story:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/583416.html
