Eliminate Medicare’s 190-day lifetime coverage limit

Inpatient treatment for mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUD) are a critical part of the continuum of care. While about 87 percent of free-standing psychiatric hospitals accept Medicare and/or Medicaid, there is a 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric treatment services under Medicare Part A.[3][5] This discriminatory lifetime cap affects many individuals with MH/SUDs, particularly those individuals with disabilities caused by their MH/SUD who may be enrolled in Medicare for decades and may have multiple inpatient stays over time.[6] Particularly given that this lifetime limitation does not apply to any other treatment covered by any government payer, Congress should eliminate this arbitrary restriction.[4]