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.”
Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bob Casey, D-Pa., Sept. 11 introduced the SEPSIS Act, legislation which would task the Centers for…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services Sept. 10 announced the opening of a 60-day public comment period regarding its proposed plan for new data…
The House Education and Workforce Committee advanced several bills Sept. 11, including legislation that would empower commercial insurance companies at the…
Hospitals and health systems are seeing significant increases in administrative costs, including due to burdensome practices by commercial insurers that often…
PerspectiveCongress returns to Washington, D.C., next week following the summer recess, and lawmakers can expect a busy fall as they face a full plate of issues that need…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Aug. 15 announced it negotiated lower prices with drug makers for 10 high-cost, sole-source drugs, with the new prices…
