WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal health officials are launching a broad effort to reduce what they describe as unnecessary psychiatric medication use, particularly among children, while expanding access to nonmedication mental health treatments and guidance on safely tapering prescriptions.
What This Means for You
- HHS plans new guidance, training, and research focused on psychiatric prescribing and deprescribing.
- Federal officials are encouraging doctors to increase informed consent and discuss nonmedication treatment options with patients.
- New federal webinars, reports, and policy initiatives are expected throughout the summer.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the initiative during a MAHA Institute summit focused on mental health and overmedicalization.
Overmedicalization refers to the use of medical treatments, medications, or interventions in situations where they may not be clinically necessary or may outweigh potential benefits.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the agency’s new action plan is intended to promote what officials described as more appropriate psychiatric prescribing practices while encouraging medication tapering and discontinuation when clinically appropriate.
“Today, we take clear and decisive action to confront our nation’s mental health crisis by addressing the overuse of psychiatric medications — especially among children,” Kennedy said in a statement.
Federal officials said the effort will involve coordination across multiple HHS agencies to review prescription patterns, assess potential risks and benefits of psychiatric medications, and elevate nonmedication treatment options including psychotherapy, nutrition, physical activity, and family support services.
New Guidance for Doctors and Providers
HHS recently issued a “Dear Colleague” letter encouraging healthcare providers to prioritize informed consent and shared decision-making with patients prescribed psychiatric medications.
Shared decision-making refers to a process in which healthcare providers and patients jointly discuss treatment options, risks, benefits, and patient preferences before making medical decisions.
The letter also encourages clinicians to regularly reassess whether psychiatric medications continue providing clinical benefit and to consider nonmedication treatments when appropriate.
Federal officials said the guidance includes billing information intended to help providers receive reimbursement for evidence-based nonmedication services.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services separately released guidance clarifying how physicians can bill Medicare for deprescribing-related care.
Deprescribing refers to the supervised reduction or discontinuation of medications when risks outweigh benefits or when a patient no longer clinically benefits from the treatment.
CMS also directed providers to professional society guidelines, peer-reviewed deprescribing protocols, and Food and Drug Administration tapering recommendations.
Summer Rollout of Federal Initiatives
HHS outlined several upcoming activities scheduled throughout June and July.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, commonly known as SAMHSA, plans to release a report on psychiatric prescribing trends along with educational materials for both healthcare providers and patients.
SAMHSA also plans to host webinars focused on psychiatric medication side effects, deprescribing strategies, and evidence-based nonmedication treatments.
This summer, SAMHSA and the Health Resources and Services Administration will jointly host training sessions for providers at Federally Qualified Health Centers focused on holistic mental healthcare and medication tapering practices.
In July, HHS plans to convene a Technical Expert Panel that will include healthcare professionals, patients, family members, government agencies, and professional organizations to help shape future federal clinical guidance.
Expanded Access and Research Efforts
Federal officials said HHS agencies also plan to support training for frontline healthcare providers focused on evaluating children, treatment planning, referrals, and specialist consultations.
CMS said it will work to increase access to psychotherapy and family support services while reducing what officials described as overreliance on psychiatric medications for children and adolescents.
Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration are expected to accelerate research into new mental health treatments.
The administration described the initiative as part of a broader effort to improve transparency, expand treatment choices, and strengthen patient involvement in mental healthcare decisions.
Officials emphasized that psychiatric medications remain available and that the initiative is intended to focus on appropriate prescribing practices rather than eliminating access to treatment.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call or text 988 or visit 988 Lifeline for support. Treatment resources are also available through FindTreatment.gov.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.