This analysis of hospital ownership and market forces found that public hospitals were more likely than investor-owned hospitals to admit seriously mentally ill patients while hospitals in competitive markets and hospitals with capitation revenues were less likely to admit them.  The authors suggest potential ways to address the observed conditions.   

Shen, J. J., Cochran, C. R., & Moseley, C. B. (2008). From the emergency department to the general hospital: hospital ownership and market factors in the admission of the seriously mentally ill. Journal of Healthcare Management, 53(4): 268-79; discussion 279-80. http://www.ache.org/pubs/jhm534.cfm  

Authors: Jay J. Shen, Christopher R. Cochran, Charles B. Moseley