North Carolina's Historic $835M Behavioral-Health Investment

In honor of World Mental Health Day, the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services announced a significant financial commitment of $835 million towards improving mental health services. This funding is part of Governor Roy Cooper's larger $1 billion plan to enhance behavioral health support across the state. Some of the key funded areas include: 

• Services for people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis
• Services to help individuals with behavioral health conditions avoid incarceration
• Services for children with complex needs and supports for families
• Strengthening the behavioral health workforce

In addition to these areas, the money will be used in several key areas, such as services for children with complex needs and their families, and the strengthening of the behavioral health workforce and promoting integrated care.

In addition, more teams will be set up to help people during emergencies, and special mental health centers will be made available to provide care right when and where it's needed. Funds will be used to add more safe places for children in crisis all over the state and to expand the list of available beds, called BH SCAN. This will make it easier for hospitals and other care providers to keep track of and access different kinds of care. The money invested in services for children, families, and emergencies will ensure that people don't have to wait in emergency rooms for mental health care because there are no other options.

The biggest portion of the legislative funding will be used to raise the payment rates for mental health services under Medicaid, which hasn't happened in ten years. This increase will help support health workers and make it easier for people to get care in the right places. It will also make the expansion of Medicaid more beneficial for about 600,000 people who will now be able to get treatment for mental health issues and substance use disorders.

"After years of being stretched thin, our systems of care will receive the funding they need," said NCDHHS Chief Psychiatrist Dr. Carrie Brown. "The ability to raise the floor for Medicaid's reimbursement of behavioral health services will increase access to care in the right settings so fewer children and adults end up stuck in emergency departments or involved in the justice system."

For anyone in crisis, help is readily available through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 

(Source: NC Department of Health and Human Services)