Michelle Alyssa Go Act in plain language
1: Short title
This section would let the Act be called the Michelle Alyssa Go Act.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Michelle Alyssa Go Act .
2: Revising the definition of institution for mental diseases under the Medicaid program to exclude from such definition institutions having 36 beds or less if such institutions meet certain standards
This section would rewrite the Medicaid definition of "institution for mental diseases" in the Social Security Act. Under the new definition, a hospital, nursing facility, or other institution that is mainly engaged in providing diagnosis, treatment, or care for people with mental diseases, including medical attention, nursing care, and related services, would count as an institution for mental diseases unless it meets two conditions at the same time: it has 36 beds or less, and it meets nationally recognized, evidence-based standards for mental health programs that are approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Those approved standards would cover the types of services the institution offers, its hours of clinical care, and the credentials of its staff, plus any other standards the Secretary chooses to require. If the institution also provides treatment for substance use disorders, it would additionally have to meet nationally recognized, evidence-based standards for substance use disorder programs, such as the current standards set by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. An institution that meets the 36-bed-or-less limit and all of the applicable standards would no longer be classified as an institution for mental diseases under Medicaid.
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2. Revising the definition of institution for mental diseases under the Medicaid program to exclude from such definition institutions having 36 beds or less if such institutions meet certain standards Section 1905(i) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396d(i) ) is amended to read as follows: (i) Institution for mental diseases The term institution for mental diseases means a hospital, nursing facility, or other institution that is primarily engaged in providing diagnosis, treatment, or care of persons with mental diseases, including medical attention, nursing care, and related services, unless such hospital, facility, or other institution— (1) has 36 beds or less; and (2) meets nationally recognized, evidence-based standards for mental health programs (and, in the case of an institution for mental diseases that provides treatment for substance use disorders, meets nationally recognized, evidence-based standards for substance use disorder programs, such as the latest standards set forth by the American Society of Addiction Medicine) approved by the Secretary, including standards that establish the types of services offered, hours of clinical care, and staffing credentials for such an institution, and any other standards as the Secretary may require. .
3: Effective date
This section would make the changes in this Act take effect 180 days after the Act is enacted, and would have them apply to State Medicaid plans starting on that same date.
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3. Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act and shall apply to State plans beginning on such date.