Improving Access to Institutional Mental Health Care Act
The Improving Access to Institutional Mental Health Care Act (H.R. 5662) would remove the Medicaid exclusion that currently prevents federal medical assistance from paying for items and services furnished to patients in institutions for mental diseases (IMDs) for individuals under age 65. The bill would amend the Social Security Act to eliminate the age-based and IMD-specific exclusions, effectively allowing Medicaid to cover care in IMDs for under-65 patients. It also makes conforming changes to several sections to remove the 65-year-age cap across eligibility provisions and related authorities. The amendments would take effect October 1, 2025, and apply to items and services furnished on or after that date. In short, if enacted, the bill would extend Medicaid coverage and federal funding to mental health care provided to younger patients in IMDs, aligning IMD treatment with other Medicaid-eligible medical services and removing a long-standing age-based restriction.
Key Points
- 1Removes the Medicaid IMD exclusion: The bill eliminates the provision that excludes items and services furnished to IMD patients from Medicaid medical assistance, enabling coverage for IMD care.
- 2Removes age cap under 65: The bill repeals references to “65 years of age or older” or “65 years of age or over” in several sections, allowing IMD-related Medicaid coverage for patients under 65.
- 3Conforming amendments: Alters multiple statutory provisions (including sections 1902(a) and 1905(a)) to reflect the removal of the age cap and inclusion of IMD patients under 65 in Medicaid coverage.
- 4Effective date and applicability: The changes take effect October 1, 2025 and apply to items and services furnished on or after that date.
- 5Scope of coverage: Specifically targets items and services furnished to patients in institutions for mental diseases, expanding Medicaid funding for inpatient mental health care within IMDs.