FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2912

                          C 89 L 00

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Requiring a report concerning children in out-of-home care who received certain medications.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on  (originally sponsored by Representatives Boldt and Clements).

House Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Background:

Children with emotional and behavioral problems are often treated with psychotropic medications.  There is little information on the level of use of psychotropic medications or how such use is related to psychiatric disorders.

Summary of Bill:

By December 15, 2000, the Department of Social and Health Services must report to the Legislature regarding the prescription of psychotropic or other psychiatric medications for children in out-of-home placements.  This report must focus on children in out-of-home care who remained in such out-of-home care for more than 90 days for at least one placement episode and received "fee for service" medical assistance during fiscal year 1999.  The report must include: the number of children who were prescribed the medication during an out-of-home placement; the medical diagnosis of the children prescribed the medication; the number, type, and frequency of the medications prescribed; the number of children receiving multiple medications; the number of children prescribed Ritalin; and both the total number of children in out-of-home placements exceeding 90 days and the number of those children receiving medication.

Votes on Final Passage:

  House  97 0

Senate 46 0 (Senate amended)

House(House refused to concur)

Senate430(Senate amended)

House980(House concurred)

Effective:June 8, 20000