Repealing the IMD Exclusion Act
Congress moves to let Medicaid cover treatment in mental health facilities for adults under 65
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would let Medicaid pay for care for patients in mental health institutions, including people under age 65.
- Today, Medicaid generally won’t cover many services for adults under 65 in these facilities; this bill removes that age-based exclusion.
- Mental health and substance use treatment facilities would have to meet nationally recognized, evidence-based standards to qualify.
- States would be able to include this coverage in their Medicaid plans, starting 180 days after the law is enacted.
- If enacted, more people could get inpatient mental health or addiction treatment without being blocked just because of where they’re treated.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
People with criminal records often cycle through jails and emergency rooms due to untreated mental illness and addiction. By expanding Medicaid coverage to mental health and substance use treatment facilities, this bill could help more people in this group access treatment instead of incarceration, potentially reducing recidivism. Many people reentering society from jail or prison rely on Medicaid and currently face major gaps in mental health coverage.
Programs
Disabilities
State Impacts
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 reintroduced the Repealing the IMD Exclusion Act to eliminate the Medicaid IMD restriction for adults 21-64 in larger psychiatric facilities, allowing coverage in qualified facilities meeting national standards.
Rep. Ritchie Torres Reintroduces Bill to Repeal the IMD Exclusion and Expand Medicaid Coverage for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment
Torres announces reintroduction of legislation to repeal the IMD exclusion, expand Medicaid coverage for inpatient mental health and SUD treatment in qualifying facilities, and direct HHS to set evidence-based standards.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Repealing the IMD Exclusion Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.