Lisa Dailey News Today

Each month, dozens of guilty except for insanity patients are deemed ready for treatment outside the state hospital, but only a few are released.

The scarcity of inpatient psychiatric care is evident nationwide, especially in rural areas.

GRINNELL, Iowa — A for-profit company has proposed turning a boarded-up former nursing home here into a psychiatric hospital, joining a national trend toward having such hospitals owned by investors

The scarcity of inpatient psychiatric care is evident nationwide, especially in rural areas.

GRINNELL, Iowa — A for-profit company has proposed turning a boarded-up former nursing home here into a psychiatric hospital, joining a national trend toward having such hospitals owned by investors

GRINNELL, Iowa — A for-profit company has proposed turning a boarded-up former nursing home here into a psychiatric hospital, joining a national trend toward having such hospitals owned by investors

GRINNELL, Iowa — A for-profit company has proposed turning a boarded-up former nursing home here into a psychiatric hospital, joining a national trend toward having such hospitals owned by investors

The companies see a business opportunity in the shortage of inpatient beds for people with severe mental illness nationwide -- but especially in rural areas clamoring for care.

State institutions and community hospitals have closed inpatient mental health units, often citing staffing and financial challenges. Now, for-profit companies are opening psychiatric hospitals to fill the void.

A for-profit company has proposed turning a boarded-up former nursing home here into a psychiatric hospital, joining a national trend toward having such hospitals owned by investors instead of by state governments or nonprofit health systems.