Representatives Paul D. Tonko (D-NY-20) and Bill Huizenga (R-MI-4) reintroduced the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, bipartisan legislation that would permanently repeal the Medicare 190-day lifetime limit for inpatient psychiatric care. No such limit exists for any other Medicare inpatient health care service.
The 190-day limit discriminates against seniors with mental illnesses despite the enactment of the landmark Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. The limit disproportionately harms individuals who receive Medicare coverage earlier in life due to disability. The vast majority of private health insurance has already removed this antiquated limit. MedPac, an independent congressional agency that advises on Medicare, released a March 2025 report recommending that Congress eliminate the limit.
Representative Tonko stated: “Mental illness should be treated like any other illness, but stigma continues to limit equal, quality care — too often with dire consequences. Currently, Medicare feeds into this longstanding prejudice, setting an arbitrary cap unique to mental health care that limits treatment and provides gaps in care for seniors.”
Representative Huizenga added: “Mental health policies must be modernized to answer the growing needs of the 21st century. I am proud to help lead on this issue with bipartisan legislation to modernize Medicare policies and bring them in line with the higher standards used by the State of Michigan and private sector.”
Broad Support
The legislation is supported by more than three dozen organizations, including AARP, the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association Services, American Hospital Association, Community Catalyst, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health America, NAMI, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Agency Directors, and the National Association of Social Workers, among many others.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4425