Senate Engrossed

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-third Legislature

First Regular Session

2017

 

 

SENATE BILL 1236

 

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending title 8, chapter 4, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 8‑512.02; relating to foster children.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Title 8, chapter 4, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 8-512.02, to read:

START_STATUTE8-512.02.  Psychotropic medications; report; definition

A.  On or before August 31 of every odd numbered year, the department of child safety and the Arizona health care cost containment system administration shall prepare a report that compares the prescription rate of psychotropic medications prescribed to foster children who receive services from the Arizona health care cost containment system with the prescription rate of psychotropic medications prescribed to enrolled nonfoster children who receive these services.

B.  The report shall include the following:

1.  The number of children receiving psychotropic medications delineated by:

(a)  Age group.

(b)  Type of psychotropic medication.

(c)  Number of prescriptions.

(d)  Number of children prescribed one, two, three, four and five or more psychotropic drugs.

2.  The number of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physicians prescribing psychotropic medications to foster children, including those submitting to medicaid for treatment reimbursement.

3.  The psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physicians who have the highest number of prescriptions to children under state care of the following medications:

(a)  Antipsychotics.

(b)  Antidepressants.

(c)  Psychostimulants.

(d)  Mood stabilizers.

(e)  Antianxiety drugs.

4.  A summary of compliance with informed consent requirements for enrolled children in foster care.

5.  The annual costs of psychotropic medications to children under state care.

C.  The report shall be submitted to the chairpersons of the House of representatives health committee and the senate health and human services committee, or the chairpersons of any successor committees, and a copy of the report shall be provided to the secretary of state.

D.  For the purposes of this section, "psychotropic medication" means a medication that is prescribed for the treatment of symptoms of psychosis or another mental, emotional or behavioral disorder and that is used to exercise an effect on the central nervous system to influence and modify behavior, cognition or affective state.  Psychotropic medication includes all of the following when used as described in this subsection:

1.  Psychomotor stimulants.

2.  Antidepressants.

3.  Antipsychotics or neuroleptics.

4.  Agents for control of mania or depression.

5.  Antianxiety agents.

6.  Sedatives, hypnotics or other sleep-promoting medications. END_STATUTE