Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008

The Medicare Improvments for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 amends "titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes." Pertinent to mental health, Title I, Subtitle A, Part 1 specifies dates for the gradual elimination, by 2014, of differential copayment rates for outpatient Medicare psychiatric services. This section is not applicable to substance use services.

The legislation became law on 7/15/2008 as PL 110-275

Text of the legislation: The Medicare Improvments for Patients and Providers Act of 2008