Physicians at the AMA House of Delegates meeting in New Orleans today said they oppose a requirement proposed by Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley that physicians who prescribe medications with “black-box” warnings on an off-label basis certify in writing that the drug meets minimum criteria for coverage and reimbursement by virtue of being listed in one authorized drug compendia used by Medicare. A resolution opposing the Grassley amendment is part of a larger item brought to the house by the American Medical Directors Association on prescribing atypical antipsychotic medications for people with dementia. That motion calls for the AMA to help create educational tools and programs to promote appropriate pharmacological techniques for managing behavioral symptoms of dementia. Pictured is psychiatry section council member Paul Wick, M.D., who spoke at reference committee hearings this morning in support of the resolution. The fate of the resolution will be decided this week when the full House of Delegates meets. See upcoming editions of Psychiatric News for coverage of the AMA meeting, and for more information on the issue of antipsychotics and dementia, see http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=112827.
(Image:Mark Moran)