Antipsychotic Drug Use: HHS Has Initiatives to Reduce Use among Older Adults in Nursing Homes, but Should Expand Efforts to Other Settings (GAO-15-211)

This report was released in March 2015 by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO was asked to examine psychotropic drug prescribing for older adult nursing home residents. For this report, the GAO examined the extent of antipsychotic prescribing for adults age 66 and older with dementia living inside and outside nursing homes; research on factors contributing to such prescribing; and the extent to which the federal government has acted to reduce the use of antipsychotic drugs by older adults with dementia. GAO analyzed multiple data sources including 2012 Medicare Part D drug event claims and nursing home assessment data . . .