Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Tina Smith, D-Minn., and Reps. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., have introduced the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act (S. 3061/H.R. 5674), AHA-supported legislation that would eliminate the Medicare program’s 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric days in freestanding psychiatric facilities.  
 
“As we work to further integrate physical and behavioral health to better address the nation’s behavioral health needs, one major obstacle to parity remains in the Medicare program — the 190-day lifetime limit on coverage for certain inpatient psychiatric treatment,” AHA said in letters of support to the House and Senate sponsors. “With the nation’s population aging and an increasing number of seniors and people with disabilities seeking inpatient care to address their behavioral health needs, now is the time to repeal this discriminatory policy and ensure that Medicare beneficiaries can receive necessary inpatient psychiatric care.”
 

Related News Articles

Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services May 12 released draft guidance for the third round of negotiations for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation…
Headline
The House Energy and Commerce Committee today advanced by a 30-24 vote along party lines its portion of the fiscal year 2025 reconciliation bill following a…
Headline
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. May 14 testified on President Trump’s discretionary budget proposal for fiscal year…
Headline
The House Ways and Means Committee today advanced its portion of the fiscal year 2025 reconciliation bill by a 26-19 vote along party lines, following an hours…
Headline
The House Energy and Commerce Committee late on May 11 released legislative text in advance of the May 13 markup on its portion of the reconciliation bill.…
Headline
The House committees with jurisdiction over Medicaid and other health care programs have announced they will begin marking up their portions of the budget…