Use of Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities by Medicare Beneficiaries with Dementia

Inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs) stabilize patients in a mental health crisis and provide services to patients with serious mental illnesses and those who may cause harm to themselves or others, including people living with dementia who have severe behavioral and psychological symptoms. This report summarizes the findings of fee-for-service Medicare claims data analyses to describe characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries with and without dementia who use IPFs; diagnoses and utilization that precede psychiatric inpatient stays; and outcomes following IPF stays, including health care utilization and mortality.

This research was conducted under contract #HHSP233201500038I between HHS/ASPE’s Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy (BHDAP) and the RAND Corporation. Additional research in this area is available at the ASPE Aging & Disability page and Behavioral Health page.

Available Reports:

• Use of Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities by Medicare Beneficiaries with Dementia

Related Products:

• Transitions in Care and Service Use among Medicare Beneficiaries in Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Issue Brief (2019) (HTML version also available)
• Development of Quality Measures for Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities: Final Report (2015) (HTML version also available)