Senators urge CMS to remove IMD exclusion for substance abuse treatment

A bipartisan group of 29 senators yesterday urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to use its authority to remove substance use disorder treatment and facilities from the Medicaid exclusion on inpatient treatment for adults aged 22-64 in Institutions for Mental Disease. “This existing policy limits treatment for those who need it most, is clinically inappropriate for proper care, and is rooted in an outdated definition of mental health,” the senators wrote. “In light of the ongoing heroin and prescription opioid epidemic that is impacting communities across the nation, we urge CMS to take additional steps, utilizing existing authorities, to provide greater flexibility in ensuring patient access to medically necessary evidence-based substance abuse treatment.” The letter was led by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME).