03/12/2026

CMS Reportedly Re-examining Antipsychotics Position

The Washington Post reported on antipsychotic usage in nursing homes on March 6 with the headline “Should the practice of sedating the elderly in nursing homes be loosened?” The article highlighted multiple examples of potentially inappropriate prescribing, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) practices to identify and reduce antipsychotic usage in nursing homes, and various stakeholder responses. 

Many of the “industry” responses were actually the work of Project PAUSE, an ad hoc coalition in which LeadingAge participates. Project PAUSE has successfully advocated for report language to be included in Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations to direct the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to re-evaluate “black box warnings” and to direct the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) / CMS to revise antipsychotics quality measures to better distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate prescribing. Project PAUSE has also advocated directly to CMS for these changes. Read more about Project PAUSE and keep up to date with coalition activities here.