HealthDay (7/7, Murez) reported, “The use of antipsychotic medication in children is continuing to plummet, likely because of better policies and education,” investigators concluded after examining “Medicaid claims data between 2008 and 2016, looking at the off-label usage of these medications.” The study revealed “a 43% drop in antipsychotic prescriptions for Medicaid-enrolled children in 45 states, a stark contrast from the sharp rise in the 2000s.” The study authors concluded, “The decline we observed likely reflects the convergence of multiple state safer-use policies along with educational initiatives and the implementation of quality metrics for safe antipsychotic prescribing.” The findings were published in the July issue of the journal Health Affairs.
Related Links:
— “Fewer Kids Are Being Prescribed Antipsychotic Meds,”Cara Murez, HealthDay, July 7, 2023