Huizenga aims to improve available mental health treatments under Medicare, Medicaid

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) has introduced legislation that would provide for a demonstration program and pilot project to expand choice for inpatient psychiatric services under Medicaid and Medicare, according to draft text of the bill in the congressional record.

Such expanded inpatient psychiatric services under Medicare and Medicaid would be made available to patients across the United States who might be addicted to opioids and other substances, have urgent mental health needs or are considered high-risk individuals, according to a statement from Rep. Huizenga’s office.

“Currently, outdated Medicare and Medicaid regulations are restricting access to mental health care for individuals who need it the most,” Rep. Huizenga said on July 12 when he introduced the Increasing National Patient Access To Improved Effective Necessary Mental Health Treatment Act of 2018, or the INPATIENT Act, H.R. 6343.

“We must address the ongoing opioid epidemic and limited access to quality and affordable mental health services in West Michigan and across the nation,” said the congressman, who consulted with the national nonprofit Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., to craft H.R. 6343.

H.R. 6343 would establish a demonstration program for qualified mental health providers to optimize federal resources for hard-to-reach and costly patient populations, according to a summary of the proposal provided by Rep. Huizenga’s office.

Additionally, if enacted, H.R. 6343 would reduce duplication of Medicare and Medicaid costs; increase the number of mental health professionals working with underserved populations; inform data needs and national public policy discussion centered on the nation’s high-risk, high-expense mental health patient population; and generate best practices to serve this population effectively, efficiently and less expensively, according to the summary.

“H.R. 6343 is designed to address treatment, access, cost and workforce challenges associated with high-need, high-cost patients with behavioral health and substance abuse challenges,” said Rep. Huizenga.

Mark Eastburg, chief executive officer of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, added that H.R. 6343 would enable organizations like Pine Rest to provide the highest-quality care at a lower cost to people experiencing “some of the most severe forms of mental illness.”

“In addition, this legislation will enable us to share what we’ve learned across our nationwide network to inform policymakers and legislation,” Eastburg added.

On July 12, H.R. 6343 was received in both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee for consideration.