The bill would remove the age limitation for medical reimbursement, so that IMD patients between the ages of 22 and 64 are eligible for Medicaid reimbursement. It would also allow any institution to qualify as an IMD, regardless of the number of beds, as long as the institution primarily treats people with mental illnesses and meets national standards set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Both the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City and the Treatment Advocacy Center are advocating for the passage of the Michelle Alyssa Go Act. “The horrific murder of Michelle Go was preventable,” said Councilmember Bottcher, whose district encompasses Times Square. “So is the suffering of countless Americans with untreated mental illness. It’s unconscionable that current federal law prohibits Medicaid from covering most impatient psychiatric services.”