Changing Environments of Inpatient Psychiatric
Care for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities
William H. O’Brien, MSW

Acute inpatient psychiatric treatment for individuals with intellectual disabilities is provided in a variety of settings and with a variety of treatment models. Regardless of the model type, the capacity of a treating hospital to respond to this population is either facilitated or hindered by its financing. Little planning or dialog has occurred on the provider, advocate or insurer side to define what are the “Best Practices.” The recent changes to the Medicare’s reimbursement of inpatient psychiatric treatment could have a series of unintended consequences for individuals with intellectual disability. Policy makers in each state must create the dialog that will not only define best practice but also address minimal standards for the inpatient psychiatric treatment of individuals with intellectual disability.