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Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy
Population Health and Health Policy

Rural Inpatient Psychiatric Units Improve Access to Community-Based Mental Health Services, but Medicare Payment Policy a Barrier

Abstract: 
  • Of approximately 1500 small rural hospitals (less than 50 beds), 80 or about
    five percent have an inpatient psychiatric unit.
  • Ninety-five percent of rural hospitals with IPUs have outpatient mental health services available locally compared with 57% in a previous survey of rural hospitals.
  • Mental health practitioners who staff rural IPUs often provide outpatient services in the local community, splitting their time between
    staffing the hospital unit and their community practice.
  • Prospective payment for inpatient psychiatric facilities is cited as a major factor in recent closures of several rural IPUs.
  • Publish Date: 
    12-26-2007
    URL: 
    http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/Publications/rural/pb36/IPU.pdf