Bill > HR4619

This bill aims to eliminate the current 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under Medicare, which has historically restricted the number of days a Medicare beneficiary could receive mental health treatment in a psychiatric hospital. Specifically, the bill modifies Section 1812 of the Social Security Act by removing paragraphs that previously capped psychiatric hospitalizations and deleting language that counted these days against a patient's lifetime limit. The changes would take effect on January 1, 2027, meaning that from that date forward, Medicare recipients would no longer be constrained by the 190-day lifetime restriction when seeking inpatient mental health treatment. The legislation, known as the "Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act of 2025," represents a significant policy change designed to improve access to mental health care for Medicare beneficiaries by removing a longstanding barrier to comprehensive psychiatric treatment.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4619/all-info