This concurrent resolution requests that the President and Congress of the United States take action to amend the Medicaid program to allow federal funding for certain in-patient and out-patient rehabilitation and treatment programs for individuals with substance use disorders. Currently, the Medicaid program, established in 1965, includes an exclusion known as the IMD exclusion, which prohibits federal reimbursement for services provided in Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMDs) for most individuals aged 21 to 64. This exclusion has significant implications for individuals with substance use disorders, as these disorders are classified as mental diseases, thereby limiting access to necessary treatment and rehabilitation services.

The resolution highlights that while the federal Medicaid program has made some allowances for states to receive reimbursement for substance use disorder treatment in IMDs, such as through a waiver process, this process can be lengthy and restrictive. To address these challenges, the resolution suggests that the President and Congress consider actions such as repealing the IMD exclusion, redefining substance use disorder in relation to IMD classification, and increasing the bed limit for IMDs. The resolution aims to ensure that individuals suffering from substance use disorders can access the critical treatment and rehabilitation services they need for recovery.