Washington Takes Giant Step Forward: New Legislation Orders Curbs on Psychotropic Medication of Foster Children

The State of Washington’s legislature has passed, and on May 18 its Governor signed, far-reaching legislation to reduce over-medication of foster children with psychotropic drugs.

House Bill 1879 mandates:

  • “. . . the [state health care]authority shall require a second opinion . . . for all prescriptions of one or more antipsychotic medications of all children under eighteen years of age in the foster care system. . . . The second opinion . . . must include discussion of the psychosocial interventions that have been or will be offered . . . .”
  • “The [state health care] authority shall track prescriptive practices with respect to psychotropic medications with the goal of reducing the use of medication.”
  • The [state health care] authority shall review the psychotropic medications of all children under five and establish one or more mechanisms to evaluate the appropriateness of the medication . . . including but not limited to obtaining second opinions . . . .”
  • “the [state health care] authority shall promote the appropriate use of cognitive behavioral therapies and other treatments which are empirically supported or evidence-based, in addition to or in the place of prescription medication where appropriate and such interventions are available.”

The psychotropic medication portion of the law is embedded in a legislative mandate for development of an “integrated” mental health system for foster children:

  • “The [state health care] authority shall issue a request for proposals to provide integrated . . . behavioral health care for foster children . . . [including] a service delivery system, benefit design, reimbursement mechanisms . . . and standards. The . . . services [shall] . . . begin on October 1, 2016.

Key elements in Washington’s new law include:

  • The legislature states unequivocally that it is directing state agencies to reduce inappropriate medication of foster children.
  • Non-pharmacological interventions are to be substituted whenever possible. The goal is “reducing the use of medication.”
  • Second opinions are to be a major component of Washington’s program.
  • Reduction of medication is to be embedded in a comprehensive plan for “integrated managed health and behavioral health services for foster children.”

So far as we know, the State of Washington’s new law is far ahead of other states.Readers: please let us know what is underway—or already accomplished—in your state.

The full text of the State of Washington’s HB 1879 is here.

http://childpsychdrugsafety.org/washington-takes-giant-step-forward-new-legislation-orders-curbs-on-psychotropic-medication-of-foster-children/