Amendment ID: S3111-9

Amendment 9

Oversight of High Dose Psychotropic Prescribing

Mr. Tarr moves that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-

"SECTION_. Chapter 18B of the general laws as so appearing is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new section:-

Section 26. (a) The department shall identify and flag all prescriptions for psychotropic medications for children in the care or custody of the department that exceed the maximum dosage recommendations established by the United States Food and Drug Administration for pediatric use, or that otherwise fall outside established pediatric clinical guidelines.

(b) The department shall convene a clinical review panel to evaluate each flagged prescription. The panel shall include, but not be limited to: a child psychiatrist, a pediatrician, a licensed clinical social worker, and any other clinician deemed appropriate by the department. The panel shall determine whether the prescription is clinically justified, whether alternative treatments have been considered, and whether additional oversight or monitoring is required.

(c) The department shall submit quarterly aggregate reports to the senate and house committees on ways and means, the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, and the office of the child advocate that include, but are not limited to:

(1) the number of children prescribed psychotropic medications at dosages exceeding FDA pediatric guidelines;

(2) the number of such prescriptions reviewed by the clinical review panel;

(3) the number of prescriptions determined to be clinically justified, and the number determined to be inconsistent with pediatric best practices;

(4) the number of cases in which alternative treatments or dosage adjustments were recommended; and

(5) any corrective actions taken by the department to address inappropriate prescribing patterns.

(d) All data shall be delineated by the child’s age, race, ethnicity, primary language, disability status, placement type, and region.

(e) The department shall publish each quarterly report on its website in accordance with section 19 of chapter 66; provided, however, that any personally identifiable information shall be de‑identified or removed prior to publication."