Improving Access to Institutional Mental Health Care Act
House Bill Would Let Medicaid Cover Inpatient Mental Health Hospital Care for Adults Under 65
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Congress would let Medicaid pay for care in mental health hospitals, ending a long-standing coverage exclusion.
- This change would apply to people under 65, not just seniors, so more adults could qualify for inpatient treatment when needed.
- If it becomes law, states could use Medicaid to cover services like room-and-board and treatment while someone is admitted to a mental health facility.
- The bill sets the change to start October 1, 2025, for services provided on or after that date.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articles
Lawmaker reintroduces bill to lift Medicaid mental health coverage ban
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) reintroduced the Repealing the IMD Exclusion Act to eliminate a federal Medicaid restriction on coverage for inpatient mental health care. The bill targets a 1960s policy that bars federal matching funds for adults 21-64 in facilities with more than 16 beds.
Rep. Shri Thanedar proposes 988 days for suicide prevention
Congressman Shri Thanedar sponsored the Improving Access to Institutional Mental Health Care Act, which aims to expand Medicaid coverage for patients in mental health institutions. The legislation is part of a broader push to make mental health resources more accessible and reduce stigma.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Improving Access to Institutional Mental Health Care Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.