California Elder Abuse Lawyer Blog

According to a press release issued by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on May 30th, CMS has set a national goal of reducing antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes by 15 percent by the end of 2012. This initiative again puts the spotlight on the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs for Dementia patients.

To achieve its goal, CMS is partnering with nursing homes and other providers, advocacy groups and caregivers to enhance training in "person-centered" care, increase transparency by publicly posting nursing home antipsychotic drugging rates, and emphasizing non-drug alternatives to deal with behavioral issues.

To learn more about this important initiative, and to read the CMS press release in full, click here.

Omnicare, Inc. is the "single-largest pharmacy for long-term care facilities in the country". I know it services nursing homes here in Ventura county. Last week, it entered into a settlement with the United States Justice Department for $50,000,000 for dispensing narcotic pain medications to nursing home residents across the country without a prescription. Such medications are governed by the Controlled Substances Act. Narcotics can be addictive and have potentially life-threatening side effects, particularly for the elderly. They should not be dispensed and available for use without a proper prescription and medical oversight.

Link to the Drug Enforcement Agency's Press Release

On Monday, I blogged about our class action case regarding the over-medicating of nursing home residents. Today, the local press has helped us spread this important message.

The FRONT PAGE coverage can be viewed at this link Local News Ventura County Star.