David Metzner, an analyst with ACG Analytics, said that the country is experiencing a shortage of psychiatric beds, with only 10.8 available per 100,000 people, falling short of the recommended 50 per 100,000.
His remarks follow a report by Bay State News indicating that Massachusetts ranks 29th in the nation with just 9.5 psychiatric beds per 100,000 population.
“The emergency room and local police became the de facto mental health delivery system for the country,” said Metzner, managing partner of ACG, during a recent webinar. “We need the appropriate number of beds, but if we have a mental health system that’s working, my view would be that not many people ever have to go to those beds. States save more money on other healthcare costs when mental health issues are properly addressed.”
Metzner said this shortage has placed increased pressure on emergency rooms and law enforcement agencies, which have become the default providers of mental health care. Addressing this issue requires expanding inpatient capacity, enhancing community-based mental health services, and utilizing telemedicine for early intervention.
The shortage in Massachusetts has led to prolonged wait times and increased reliance on emergency departments for psychiatric crises. It also presents challenges in providing timely care for individuals with severe mental illness. Despite having 2,761 licensed psychiatric inpatient beds and serving approximately 74,000 inpatient admissions annually, the state continues to face gaps in mental health services. The state hospital utilization rate stands at 0.29 per 1,000 people, below the national average of 0.41 per 1,000.
Behavioral Health Business reports that in 2023, psychiatric bed occupancy reached 90%, with 73% of states surpassing the 85% threshold. Forensic patients occupy over half of these beds at 52%, causing inmates to wait two months for care. States differ in their allocation strategies; some reserve most beds for forensic cases. This shortage places civilian patients with serious mental illness at risk by increasing discharges and incidents of self-harm and arrests.
According to Meridian International Center’s information on David Metzner’s background, he is the Managing Partner of American Continental Group and has led ACG Analytics since 2007. He advises financial industry clients on how public policy impacts investment decisions and previously served as Vice Chairman of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
