Call to Halt Overprescription of Medications to Elderly Patients

Moorestown, NJ (Law Firm Newswire) November 16, 2012 – During a press conference at the state Capitol, Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal announced his intent to halt the over-prescription of off-label antipsychotic drugs to nursing home patients.

Medical advocates and elderly care advocates also announced the formation of a Connecticut-based coalition made up of nursing home groups and public health employees. Their aim is to reduce the amount of antipsychotics prescribed to elderly patients by 15 percent, calling it “chemical restraint.”

Sen. Blumenthal and the coalition of advocates, the Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes, have stated that the extensive dispensing of antipsychotic medications to dementia patients, residing in long-term care facilities and nursing homes, is a form of elder abuse, no less offensive than using physical restraints. The medications in question include Olanzapine, Risperidone and Quetiapine.

Qualidigm, a Medicare quality improvement organization based in Connecticut, sponsors the coalition and Senator Bluemnthal’s bill, which suggests alternative techniques for patient care, including touch therapy, music and comforting routines.

“While caring for elderly patients with dementia can bring extra challenges, we applaud the health care system taking steps to use less restrictive approaches to managing their care,” stated New Jersey elder law attorney Thomas D. Begley, Jr.

The bill would require the consent from family members prior to use, and would require educational programs for prescribers and dispensing nursing home staff, as well as regular reporting on facility usage of antipsychotic drugs.
According to Blumenthal and the Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes, the use of these medications for elderly dementia patients has not been approved by the FDA and can cause unresponsiveness, excessive sedation and can increase health risks such as stroke.

While the national average for prescribing these off-label antipsychotic drugs is 23.9 percent, Connecticut nursing homes currently prescribe these between 25 percent and 65 percent of the time. A report released last year by the Inspector General stated that 83 percent of nursing home care Medicare claims were for off-label conditions which included the prescribing of antipsychotic drugs.

To learn more about Begley Law Group call 1.800.533.7227 or visit www.begleylawgroup.com.

Begley Law Group, P.C.
509 S. Lenola Road, Building 7
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Tel: 800.533.7227

• Dana E. Bookbinder Appears on Boomer Generation Radio
  Dana E. Bookbinder appeared recently on “Boomer Generation Radio” on WWDB-AM Talk 860 to discuss Life Care Planning for Baby Boomers with show host, Rabbi  Richard F. Address.  During the interview, Dana gave the listeners a basic overview of Medicaid, Medicare, Life Care Planning and other topics affecting aging Baby Boomers. Boomer Generation Radio airs on WWDB-AM 860 every Tuesday at 10 a.m., and features news and conversation aimed at Baby Boomers and the issues facing them as members of what Rabbi Address calls “the club sandwich generation.” You can hear the show live on AM 860, or streamed live [...]
• A Busy April for Begley Law Group
  It has been a busy April for the attorneys at Begley Law Group.  During the month, they attended and presented at several important national and regional Elder Law gatherings. At the Special Needs Alliance Spring Meeting, April 15th and 16th in Washington, D.C. attorneys Kristen L. Behrens and Tom Begley, Jr. attended presentations from the Social Security Administration and Easter Seals on the Affordable Care Act.  They also took the opportunity to participate in Hill Day where members of the Alliance get the chance to visit with their Congressmen and Senators to hear more about policy-making that affects their clients. [...]
• THE USE OF TRUST PROTECTORS IN SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS FOR PERSONAL INJURY VICTIMS
  Family members often want to be the trustee of their children’s special needs trusts established to hold litigation proceeds.  This almost inevitably ends in disaster, because the trustee must be familiar with SSI Rules, Medicaid Laws and Regulations, Tax Law, must have investment management expertise, must have only the interest of the disabled beneficiary at heart, have no conflict of interest, and must be able to navigate the disability system.  A much better solution is a professional trustee.  However, family members are often reluctant to give up control.  They see a professional trustee as someone between them and their money, [...]

See other news sources publishing this article. BETA | Tags: new jersey elder law, new jersey elder law attorney, new jersey estate planning, new jersey estate planning attorney, new jersey estate planning lawyer, New Jersey personal injury settlement consultant, New Jersey Special Needs attorney, New Jersey Special Needs Lawyer, New Jersey Special Needs planning, new jersey veterans law, nj elder, nj estate planning, nj estate planning attorney