NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUBJECT:
The use of antipsychotic medication in nursing homes

PURPOSE:
To hear testimony on the appropriate and inappropriate use of these drugs

New York City
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
10:00 A.M.
250 Broadway, Room 1923, 19th Floor
New York, New York

ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY

Each day in New York State, nearly one in five nursing home residents is medicated with powerful and dangerous antipsychotic drugs as a form of chemical restraint, according to data from the federal Nursing Home Compare website.

A recent report by the Long Term Care Community Coalition (LTCCC), an advocacy group for the elderly and disabled, shows alarming above-average antipsychotic drug usage rates in some regions of the state and in many nursing homes. Some nursing homes were found to medicate 50% or more of their residents -- after adjusting the data to exclude residents with diagnoses for which the drug would be medically appropriate.

The purpose of this hearing is to give representatives of residents, families, advocates and providers the opportunity to voice their observations and recommendations in relation to the appropriate and inappropriate use of these drugs. (It is expected that some testimony may reach into other areas of nursing home care that influence prescribing patterns, such as staffing, activities, visitation and meal preparation. However, for the purpose of this hearing, witnesses are asked to confine their observations to those that are germane to the issue of antipsychotic medication.)

The full report by LTCCC can be viewed at its website at http://www.ltccc.org/
The Nursing Home Compare website is http://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/

Testimony at this hearing is by invitation only. Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible, but no later than close of business Wednesday, February 11th. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Richard N. Gottfried
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Health



PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on the use of antipsychotic medication in nursing homes are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible, but no later than close of business Wednesday, February 11th, and mail, email or fax it to:

Michelle Newman
Legislative Analyst
Assembly Program and Counsel
Room 442 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: newmanm@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4371
Fax: (518) 455-4693
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I plan to attend the public hearing on "Use of antipsychotic medication in nursing homes" to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Health on February 18th.
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I have been invited to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:




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I do not plan to attend the above hearing.
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I would like to be added to the Committee's mailing list for notices and reports.
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I would like to be removed from the Committee's mailing list.
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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:




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