Trends in Medicaid Utilization and Financing for Hospitals With Psychiatric Beds

Medicaid is the largest payer for inpatient psychiatric care, but geographic differences in spending remain understudied. Rural areas face barriers to accessing and using inpatient psychiatric services. Reductions in Medicaid enrollment through work requirements and proposed reimbursement cuts may further affect financing. Given anticipated policy changes, it is important to understand how Medicaid’s role in financing inpatient psychiatric care has changed geographically.