U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis Reacts to New GAO Report on Oversight of Psychotropic Medications for Children in Foster Care

“U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis Reacts to New GAO Report on Oversight of Psychotropic Medications for Children in Foster Care”



Washington, D.C.- On Monday, February 6, 2017, the Government Accounting Office released a report on the steps the Health and Human Services Department has taken to supports states’ oversight of psychotropic medications, which affect mood, thought, and behavior, for children in foster care. Congressman Davis said, “I would like to applaud the efforts states have taken to address this critical issue that has challenged child welfare agencies across our great nation. More efforts are needed by congress and the executive branch, however, to promote stronger interagency collaborations between state and local child welfare and Medicaid authorities to help them implement best practices, such as mental health screens, prescription guidelines, and regular child health monitoring of children who are prescribed psychotropic medications that were described in the report. These remaining challenges can be overcome through the adoption of better data collection efforts to oversee medication use, including wider use and implementation of written interagency agreements that allow states to overcome privacy concerns and reduce reliance on
disparate data systems. HHS is in a position to use their role to convene state child welfare and Medicaid stakeholders to foster the
formation of these critical partnerships.”