Earlier this month, Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer joined with US. Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) to co-sponsor legislation that would help alleviate the inpatient bed shortage of inpatient psychiatric beds in hospitals throughout the state.
Emmer said that “almost 80 percent of Minnesotan bill that will eliminate barriers to mental health resources to those who need it most.”
Kudos to Tom for working to improve the lives of all Minnesotans but especially those families with a member needing in-patient psychiatric care. While some members of the Minnesota congressional delegation hold performative, do-nothing hearings, Emmer is working hard to make life better in Minnesota.
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Emmer’s bipartisan bill aims to expand psychiatric inpatient hospitals
By Ripon Advance News Service
Jan. 15, 2026
Bipartisan legislation unveiled on Jan. 13 by U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) would help alleviate the inpatient bed shortage across the country and encourage the expansion of psychiatric inpatient hospitals.
The Securing Facilities for Mental Health Services Act, H.R. 7030, which Rep. Emmer sponsored alongside lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), would eliminate a prohibition under the National Housing Act to allow inpatient psychiatric hospitals to access mortgage assistance through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Section 242 program.
“Almost 80 percent of Minnesota counties have a healthcare shortage,” Rep. Emmer said. “Whether you’re a patient in Minnesota or New York, those in need should not be denied care due to outdated laws. This is a common-sense, nonpartisan bill that will eliminate barriers to mental health resources to those who need it most.”
HUD’s Mortgage Insurance Program has a patient-day requirement for qualifying hospitals to provide acute care services to more than 50 percent of patients. But because inpatient psychiatric hospitals treat patients over extended periods of time, they do not qualify and are currently excluded from the program, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Emmer’s office.
If enacted, H.R. 7030 would amend section 242 of the National Housing Act to provide parity with respect to access to the mortgage insurance for hospitals program for licensed hospitals, the text of the bill says.
“It is our duty as public servants to address shortfalls in the system, and that is what Congressman Emmer and I are doing with this critical bill,” said Rep. Torres.
H.R. 7030 is supported by the Mortgage Bankers Association and the Minnesota Hospital Association.