Pennsylvania reduces Psychotrophic Medication Use A state-commissioned CHOP PolicyLab study found that in 2012 in Pennsylvania, the use of psychotropic medications was nearly three times higher among 6- to 18-year-olds in foster care than among youth in Medicaid overall. In response to PolicyLab's research, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) created an action plan to curb the overprescribing of psychotropic medications.

On February 23 in a press conference hosted at CHOP, DHS Secretary Ted Dallas announced the progress made due to several new initiatives to reduce the use of psychotropic medication among the state’s most vulnerable children.

Photo caption: From left: Ted Dallas, PA Department of Human Services secretary; Dr. David Rubin, PolicyLab director; Deborah Shoemaker, executive director, PA Psychiatric Society; Kathleen Noonan, CHOP’s assistant vice president of Board Relations; CHOP’s Dr. Cindy Christian, PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; and Douglas Hock, CHOP executive vice president and chief operating officer.