Crucial Vote To Curb Prescription Of Anti-Psychotic Drugs To Foster Kids Looms
The most controversial measure in the package would require annual monitoring of high-prescribing doctors -- and allow the California Medical Board to crack down on violators by revoking their licenses.
San Jose Mercury News:
Drugging Our Kids: Legislation To Halt Overmedicating Foster Children Faces Key Votes
California's sweeping efforts to curb the overprescribing of psychiatric drugs to foster children face crucial votes in Sacramento this week, as legislators scramble to negotiate behind the scenes with doctors' groups and the administration of Gov. Jerry Brown whose support is key to the fate of the reforms. At stake is a series of bills that would monitor and investigate doctors for dangerous prescribing; require that judges have a second opinion for the most dangerous prescribing requests; and require better transparency and tracking of mental health services for foster kids in every California county. (Seipel, 8/8)
Read the series by the Mercury News: "Drugging Our Kids"