Bill
HD 2431
Summary of HD 2431: An Act to provide more timely treatment of inpatient mental health care OverviewThis proposed bill, introduced on November 29, 2025, aims to address delays and
This proposed bill, introduced on November 29, 2025, aims to address delays and challenges in accessing inpatient mental health treatment services. The main goal is to ensure more timely and effective care for individuals requiring inpatient psychiatric hospitalization.
The bill includes the following key provisions:
Reduced Wait Times: Requires hospitals and mental health facilities to admit patients needing inpatient psychiatric care within 24 hours of the patient being evaluated and determined to require hospitalization.
Increased Funding: Allocates an additional $50 million in annual funding to expand inpatient psychiatric bed capacity and staffing at hospitals and mental health treatment centers across the state.
Insurance Coverage Requirements: Mandates that all private and public insurance plans cover inpatient psychiatric hospitalization with the same coverage terms and limitations as other medical hospitalizations.
Penalties for Noncompliance: Imposes financial penalties on hospitals and facilities that fail to admit patients within the 24-hour window, with fines starting at $5,000 per violation.
Reporting and Oversight: Requires quarterly reporting to the state legislature on inpatient psychiatric bed availability, wait times, and compliance with the new requirements. An independent oversight committee will be established to monitor implementation.
This bill is expected to have the following key impacts:
Improve access to timely, life-saving inpatient mental health treatment for individuals in crisis, potentially preventing worsening of conditions and reducing risks like self-harm.
Reduce the burden on emergency departments and law enforcement, which often have to hold patients for extended periods waiting for an available psychiatric bed.
Incentivize hospitals and mental health facilities to expand inpatient psychiatric capacity and staff to meet the new requirements.
Ensure more equitable insurance coverage for inpatient mental health services compared to physical health services.
Increase transparency and accountability around inpatient psychiatric care availability and quality through enhanced reporting and oversight.
Overall, the bill aims to make substantive progress in addressing long-standing gaps and delays in the mental health care system to better serve some of the state's most vulnerable residents.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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