SACRAMENTO >> In response to California’s Auditor declaring last month that all levels of government in California have “failed to adequately oversee the prescription of psychotropic medications to children in foster care” and disclosing a system-wide failure regarding the tracking of psychotropic medication patterns, an oversight hearing in the State Capitol will be held to officially present the findings and begin to outline solutions.
Senator Mike McGuire will chair the joint hearing, involving the Senate Human Services Committee and Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 3. The hearing will take place at 1 p.m. on Sept. 26. It’s purpose is to consider recommendations of the Bureau of State Audits (BSA) and their review of psychotropic medication use on foster children.
The hearing, in Room 3191 of the state Capitol, follows release of the BSA’s report three weeks ago, “California’s Foster Care System: The State and Counties Have Failed to Adequately Oversee the Prescription of Psychotropic Mediations to Children in Foster Care.”
The audit and hearing was initially scheduled to be released and held in June, however at the last moment the Department of Health Care Services notified the Auditor that it had failed to provide 617 million medical service records that were relevant to the Auditor’s review. After a two month delay, the audit was finalized and recommended better state oversight of county prescribing patterns to foster youth. One key finding is the need to improve the current system of tracking prescription use which, in many cases, involves a foster parent taking a doctor’s note to the social worker for input into the statewide database.
The issues have been brought to light over the last two years as the Senate Human Services Committee has held a series of oversight hearings culminating with the State Auditor’s Report.
“I am appalled by what has been uncovered over the last two years and it’s time for answers. The findings of this audit show the health and safety of thousands of foster youth have been put at risk for years,” McGuire said. “Unfortunately, our worst fears were realized and the scathing report shows the State of California has been failing some of the most vulnerable youth in our society — foster kids.”
The auditor found that in many cases, counties weren’t receiving the mandated permissions prior to prescribing these mind-numbing drugs, counties and the state have not been uploading and tracking prescription data and that children were prescribed multiple psychotropic medications, medications in higher dosages and medications without recommended follow up doctor’s visits at significant rates. The report also identifies a lack of concurrent psychosocial services provided to children who are taking psychotropic medication. Data in the auditor’s report also shows that more than one-third of all paid psychotropic medications were for anti-psychotic drugs, which pose significant risks for side effects for children.
At the hearing, the state auditor’s office, the state Department of Health Care Services and Department of Social Services will be on hand to discuss the findings and next steps.
The hearing is open to the public and folks can watch the proceedings online at www.senate.ca.gov.
