Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2001

The Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2001 was designed to expand and equalize mental health coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. The bill proposed eliminating the 190-day lifetime limit on psychiatric hospital stays and reducing the higher out-of-pocket costs for outpatient mental health visits to match the rates paid for physical health services. Additionally, it sought to increase access to care by allowing Medicare to cover services provided by marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors, while adding coverage for intensive residential and outpatient programs.