A study of 42 state Medicaid programs found that 58% of prescriptions for antipsychotics were not for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Off-label prescribing was most prevalent among individuals under 21 years of age (76%) or over 65 (65%), as opposed to 49% for those between 21 and 64 years. The authors note that the medications are expensive and have limited evidence of effectiveness. Results are published in this month’s American Journal of Managed Care.
As a former Medicaid client, I have SEEN this. I was on an anti-psychotic but am not schizophrenic nor bipolar.
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Attorney, Jim Gottstein has put together a Medicaif Fraud Initiative –
http://psychrights.org/education/ModelQuiTam/ModelQuiTam.htm
Duane
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