Supporting 9–8–8 Crisis Stabilization Act

More Medicaid-covered crisis centers

If enacted, this bill would let Medicaid treat four types of community crisis centers as not being psychiatric institutions. Beginning the day after enactment, state-certified community behavioral health clinics in certain demos and community mental health centers would be excluded from the IMD rule. It would also create statutory definitions for crisis receiving and stabilization facilities and mental health and substance use urgent care facilities. Crisis receiving and stabilization facilities would have to be licensed, operate 24/7, provide at least 23 hours of observation plus 48 hours of stabilization (including withdrawal management and 24-hour medical monitoring), keep average stays under 150 hours, not deny care for ability to pay or listed factors, use sliding-fee discounts, and accept law enforcement, EMS, and family referrals. Urgent care facilities would have to allow walk-ins for crisis assessment, intervention, medication, and linkage to follow-up care. The bill would require HHS guidance within 180 days and a federal report within 1 year on use and effects.