The Crisis Care Access Act of 2024 amends Medicare to cover crisis stabilization services provided by hospital outpatient departments starting January 1, 2027. These services include observation care for up to 23 hours, suicide and violence risk screening, and assessment and treatment of immediate physical health needs for patients experiencing mental health or substance use disorder crises. Hospitals providing these services must staff their crisis units 24/7 with multidisciplinary teams that may include psychiatrists, nurses, and peer support specialists, and must be able to accept referrals and coordinate with emergency response systems. The bill also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress within 18 months of enactment examining whether Medicare coverage should be extended to standalone crisis stabilization facilities that are not hospital-based, including considerations about facility licensing, payment rates, and program integrity safeguards.
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