April 16, 2014

YLC Supports Reduction of Psychotropic Medication

YLC joined over 110 organizations to support the President’s proposed five-year collaborative demonstration, which is designed to encourage states to provide evidence-based therapeutic interventions to children and youth in foster care and to reduce the inappropriate use and over-prescription of psychotropic medications.  The Administration’s Budget includes a new Medicaid demonstration, in partnership with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), to address the over-prescription of psychotropic medications for children in foster care.  This investment includes $250 million in mandatory funding over five years in ACF, paired with $500 million in new performance based incentive funds in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to improve outcomes for these children.

The joint proposal put forth by ACF and CMS will help coordinate efforts to build state and tribal capacity within child welfare and health care systems to more appropriately address the high rates of children who may be unnecessarily receiving psychotropic medications, often several at one time, even as few receive appropriate outpatient mental health services. The project will encourage the utilization of effective evidence-based therapeutic interventions, including therapeutic foster care, intensive in-home and community-based approaches, Multi-Systemic Therapy, and mobile response and stabilization services.  More information on the proposal is available from First Focus

 

Support Letter to Senators Reid and McConnell re proposal