Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Drug complaints reach record high FDA blames 14% jump on increased prescription use USA Today story reprinted at
PsycPORT - "Drug side effects and other related health problems reported to the Food and Drug Administration reached an all-time high in 2004, a government estimate shows. The federal agency received roughly 422,500 adverse-event reports from pharmaceutical companies, health professionals and patients, up nearly 14% from the 370,887 reports filed in 2003. A final 2004 total is expected later this year, but FDA officials don't expect it to vary significantly from the estimate. The bulk of the reports comes from drug manufacturers, which the FDA requires to file details of all known adverse events involving their products. Doctors, nurses and patients also file, but their reports are voluntary. As a result, the annual totals are believed to cover only a percentage of the actual number of serious drug reactions and problems."
State Medicaid Developments An item in yesterday's Kaiser Daily Health policy report covers recent developments in Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, and provides links to related news stories.
Legislature rejects mental health bill: Lawmakers cite budgetary concerns (Idaho) Idaho State Journal story - "Citing budgetary and philosophical concerns, the House of Representatives on Monday voted down a bill aimed at easing the financial burden of those afflicted by mental illness. The 39-31 vote means Idaho will not - at least in 2005 - join 33 other states with so-called mental health parity programs and underscored an ongoing disagreement over the core definition of mental health."
State audit of mental health care system is welcome (Arizona) Arizona Republic opinion column by the chief executive of ValueOptions/Arizona - "Recent media coverage has raised important issues about Maricopa County's behavioral health system. Many people are deeply invested in these issues, including mental health advocates, providers, consumers and their families, the court and state agencies. As the court monitor's mini-audit of our system of care recently found, they are encouraged by our progress but we all acknowledge that we have a long road ahead to maintain and enhance our services."
Oregon audit finds potential Medicaid savings Story in the
Statesman-Journal - "If Oregon would change the way it provides prescription-drug benefits for Medicaid clients, the state could save millions of dollars each year, according to a new report by the Audits Division. The audit recommended a number of changes in the state's list of preferred prescription drugs, which identifies the most effective drug at the best possible price. The list is designed to encourage Medicaid patients to use less-costly drugs. ... The second source of potential savings, $9.4 million, would come from including antidepressant- and antipsychotic-class drugs on the state's preferred-drug list. The 2001 legislation excluded mental-health drugs from the list."
Mental health drug claims show decline (Utah) Salt Lake Tribune story - "State health officials say a program aimed at reviewing Medicaid pharmacy claims for drugs to treat mental health conditions has decreased unnecessary prescriptions. Over the past 12 months, the Utah Department of Health's Behavioral Pharmacy Management Program has reviewed Medicaid mental health pharmacy claims, looking for doses that are too high or too low, similar drugs prescribed for a patient by more than one doctor and forgotten refills. Although overall treatment for mental health is on the rise, providers wrote 5 percent fewer mental health prescriptions for Medicaid patients who have been involved in the program. When used incorrectly, mental health medications can lead to dangerous drug interactions and other problems. "
Lawmaker seeks to rename BMHI after Dorothea Dix (Maine) Bangor Daily News story - "Why change the name of the Bangor Mental Health Institute? Rep. Sean Faircloth, D-Bangor, says it's a matter of respect - respect for Mainers with mental illness as well as for the Maine-born woman who championed their cause throughout the United States and Europe. Faircloth has sponsored a proposal to change the name of the Bangor Mental Health Institute and its sprawling campus to the Dorothea Dix Center for Public Service. At a public hearing before the Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday, Faircloth told lawmakers it's time for Maine to honor Dix, who grew up in Hampden, just eight miles from Bangor."
