Doctor critical of Oklahoma's proposed changes to state drug plan

Tuesday, January 21st 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- An Oklahoma City psychiatrist says he will be forced to give schizophrenia patients higher doses of less-effective drugs if a health maintenance organization succeeds in banning the use of certain anti-psychotic drugs because they cost too much.

A state drug review board says Heartland Health Plan of Oklahoma should be able to eliminate two major anti-psychotic drugs, Xyprexia and Geodon, prescribed to Medicaid patients.

Psychiatrist Willis Holloway says the plan is an outrage and will cost the same because patients will be given higher doses of the cheaper medication to keep symptoms under control.

Under the proposed plan patients would not have access to the more expensive drugs unless no other medication is working for them.

The health care provider serves the indigent and elderly who qualify for Medicaid, which is funded by state and federal tax dollars.