The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced last week that antipsychotic use in long-stay nursing home patients dropped by 15.1 percent nationally between 2011 and the end of 2013. California saw a 24.20 percent reduction during the same period.

Opportunities for improvement in the use of these medications is focused on: providing residents and their designated representatives with accurate and complete information to make informed decisions; considering non-pharmacologic interventions along with risk and benefits associated with the medication prior to use; developing and implementing a complete and accurate care plan related to behavioral modifications and antipsychotic use; and provision of quality consultant pharmacist services.

In 2012, CMS launched a national initiative to improve the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing home residents. Since then, a unique partnership of California nursing home providers, advocates, physicians, government agencies and others have been working together with CMS and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to embrace the national initiative and present solutions.

Additional information on the California Partnership to Improve Dementia Care and Antipsychotic Medication Reduction in Nursing Homes Collaborative can be found at www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/LnC/Pages/AntipsychoticCollab.aspx and www.calculturechange.org.