PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 114-97.
Congressional Research Service
Version 49 · Public Law · Dec 11, 2015
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on November 16, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Improving Access to Emergency Psychiatric Care Act
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to revise the length of the emergency psychiatric demonstration project under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act that is currently limited to three years.
Participation in the demonstration project shall be extended through FY2016 for any requesting states selected for eligibility to participate on or before March 13, 2012, if the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) determines, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) certify, that a state's participation is projected not to increase net Medicaid program spending.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
An additional extension through December 31, 2019, may be granted to a state, and the number of states eligible to participate may be expanded through December 31, 2019, if the same fiscal criteria are met.
HHS shall review annually each participating state's demonstration project expenditures to ensure budget neutrality. If a state's net programming spending has increased as a result of its participation in the project, HHS shall treat the excess expenditures as an overpayment under Medicaid.
This bill also revises certain limitations on federal funding.
HHS must submit recommendations to Congress: (1) first on whether the demonstration project should be continued after September 30, 2016, (2) whether it should be expanded to additional states, (3) subsequently on whether it should be permanently continued after December 31, 2019, in one or more states, and (4) finally on whether the demonstration project should be expanded (including on a nationwide basis).
$100,000 shall be available for the project from unobligated balances of amounts available in the CMS Program Management account.
People & committees
Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] · D–MD
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 114-97.
Became Public Law No: 114-97.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8175; text as Senate agreed to the House amendment: CR S8175)
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8175; text as Senate agreed to the House amendment: CR S8175)
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8176-8177)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8176-8177)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 599.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8176-8180)
Mr. Pitts moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6979-6980; text as passed Senate: CR S6979-6980)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6979-6980; text as passed Senate: CR S6979-6980)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 180.
Committee on Finance. Reported by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-101.
Committee on Finance. Reported by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-101.
Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1168-1169; text of measure as introduced: CR S1169-1170)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Jan 20, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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