Report 2015-131 Recommendation 31 Responses
Report 2015-131: California's Foster Care System: The State and Counties Have Failed to Adequately Oversee the Prescription of Psychotropic Medications to Children in Foster Care (Release Date: August 2016)
Recommendation #31 To: Social Services, Department of
To ensure that the Medical Board can promptly complete its analysis to identify physicians who may have inappropriately prescribed psychotropic medications to foster children, Social Services and Health Care Services should continue to work with the Medical Board and its consultant to meet their data needs. If the Medical Board's analysis is able to identify these physicians, Social Services and Health Care Services should enter into an agreement with the Medical Board to provide the information the Medical Board needs to perform similar analyses in the future.
6-Month Agency Response
The Medical Board of California (MBC), California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) have agreed to amendments to improve the existing data sharing agreement between the agencies and to ensure optimal data sharing in accordance with SB 1174. Data for 2015 will transfer from DHCS to the MBC by the end of February 2017.
- Estimated Completion Date: May 1, 2017
- Response Date: February 2017
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Resolved
60-Day Agency Response
Fully Implemented/Date Implemented: October 5, 2016. CDSS continues to collaborate with the Medical Board of California (MBC) to support the MBC's review of multiple concurrent psychotropic medications prescribed to children and youth in foster care. As noted in CDSS's response on June 6, 2016, CDSS transmitted additional data to be included in the dataset provided by DHCS to the MBC. In addition, a summary analysis was shared and discussed with MBC. CDSS is also currently providing technical assistance to the MBC to obtain necessary authorizations for additional child-specific information.
- Completion Date: October 2016
- Response Date: October 2016
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented
The Medical Board of California confirmed the receipt of additional data from the Departments of Health Care Services and Social Services to further its current analysis. The enactment of SB 1174 (Chapter 840, Statutes of 2016) addresses future data sharing among these entities. SB 1174's provisions become effective January 1, 2017.
All Recommendations in 2015-131
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.