Nursing Homes Rarely Penalized For Antipsychotic Overuse

In continuing coverage, NPR (12/9, Jaffe, Benincasa) reported on its “Morning Edition” program and in its “Shots” blog that restrictions against nursing home residents being prescribed medically unnecessary antipsychotics are rarely enforced. Though they are not FDA-approved for the purpose, antipsychotics are often prescribed to elderly patients as a “chemical restraint” to treat the symptoms of dementia, in violation of the Nursing Home Reform Act. “We haven’t seen any evidence that, in this particular area of antipsychotic drugs, the CMS is taking action against states,” said Toby Edelman, a senior policy attorney with the Center for Medicare Advocacy, referring to the Federal agency in charge of administering Medicare.
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— “Nursing Homes Rarely Penalized For Oversedating Patients,” Ina Jaffe and Robert Benincasa, National Public Radio, December 9, 2014.

Posted in In The News.