House Subcommittee Hearing On Inpatient Psychiatric Bed Shortage

The Michigan House Subcommittee on Public Health and Food Security heard testimony yesterday (July 22nd) on the psychiatric bed shortage, which is especially acute in upper Michigan:

https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2025/07/22/michigan-lawmakers-hear-testimony-inpatient-psychiatric-bed-shortage/

Michigan lawmakers hear testimony on inpatient psychiatric bed shortage

Michigan currently ranks 47th in the nation for inpatient psychiatric bed availability.
By Jerry Tudor - July 22, 2025

NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WLUC) - An inpatient psychiatric bed shortage continues across northern Michigan. On Tuesday, legislators heard testimony on the crisis.

Only two hospitals in the U.P. have inpatient psychiatric beds. Those are UP Health System-Marquette and Mymedical Center-Sault. Of those two, both have said they are unable to staff all the beds available. In fact, Michigan currently ranks 47th in the nation for inpatient psychiatric bed availability.

One mental health worker says while it’s a statewide issue, the northern half of the state feels it more acutely.

“The average emergency department stay for these individuals is about four days while the hospital searched for an open bed downstate. Munson has a 17-bed adult unit, but it’s been full. It’s quite often full,” National Alliance on Mental Illness Grand Traverse Board President Kate Dahlstrom said.

Dahlstrom and other mental health providers testified about the issue before the Michigan House Subcommittee on Public Health and Food Security on Tuesday. There, Dahlstrom said, in addition to inpatient beds, she wants the state to prioritize a full range of care.

“But what we need, and as you’ve heard, and I think you understand, is that if you don’t have the whole continuum, including the residential care and all the after care, it’s going to be a revolving door,” Dahlstrom said.

Dahlstrom also shared national data that explains how many available beds there should be in northern Michigan.

“There’s national research that shows the bare absolute minimum of 30 beds per 100,000. If that was the case, and with our population of 500,00 in northern Michigan, we would have 300 beds. We have 50 beds and zero beds for youth,” Dahlstrom said.

One doctor who testified said the issue comes down to bed availability and adequate staffing.

Legislators say they intend to review Tuesday’s testimony before moving forward. No timeline for any action was given.