Advocacy Alert: Tonko and Huizenga Introduce Legislation to Expand Mental Health Care for Seniors

July 24, 2025

via Paul D. Tonko’s official website

This bipartisan parity legislation removes 190-day lifetime limit on behavioral health care under Medicare.

Representatives Paul D. Tonko (D-NY-20) and Bill Huizenga (R-MI-4) today reintroduced the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, bipartisan legislation that would improve care for millions of America’s seniors by permanently repealing the Medicare 190-day lifetime limit for inpatient psychiatric care. No such limit exists for any other Medicare inpatient health care service.

NBHAP is one of the organizations listed as supporting this legislation.

Despite the enactment of the landmark Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, Medicare continues to discriminate against seniors with mental illnesses. The 190-day limit in care disproportionately harms individuals who receive Medicare coverage earlier in life due to disability.

Read the full announcement here.

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