California Medicaid Expands Antipsychotic Preauthorization Requirement For Children Up To Age 18

On October 1, 2014, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) began requiring a treatment authorization request (TAR) for antipsychotics prescribed to children ages 0-17 enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. The Medi-Cal TAR requirement previously existed for any antipsychotic prescribed for children age 5 and younger, and for two or more antipsychotics prescribed for children ages 6 to 17. By expanding the age range requiring a TAR for any antipsychotic prescription, DHCS seeks to more effectively monitor and oversee of the use of these medications in the juvenile population. The new TAR requirement . . .