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March 07, 2003

Is this really a good idea?

Massachusetts is considering further limiting the drugs doctors can prescribe for Medicaid patients, to save money. This plan includes psychiatric medications -- not only antidepressants but antipsychotic drugs, including requiring special permission for prescribing multiple medications for an ailment in some cases. Now there may be some doctors out there who are over-prescribing. But the problem is that for many patients with depression, more than one drug often makes sense. And the newer drugs, in addition to being more expensive, are also often more effective with fewer side-effects. So for those patients who don't do as well with limited, older drugs -- what happens if they can no longer work, need more frequent doctor visits, or even hospitalization? Setting aside the question of fairness in providing medical treatment to those in need, it seems like the state is going to end up paying a lot more for some of these patients than it is saving. And those antipsychotics -- I think I'd much rather pay more taxes than wonder if some poor soul wandering the streets isn't getting the best antipsychotics available. Think about it.

Posted by markj at March 7, 2003 08:08 PM

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Mark wonders about state plans to cut back on Medicaid payments for drugs, in particular psychiatric medications: And those antipsychotics [Read More]

Tracked on March 8, 2003 12:17 PM

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Posted by: lucy at March 11, 2003 12:43 PM

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