Our state's mental health system has long been anchored by three major psychiatric hospitals, but those institutions were designed for long term care. Patients needing short term care were falling through the cracks. In 2008 the NC State legislature provided funding for a new program called "Three Way Contracts." The program implements a system utilizing the state, local mental health management entities (also called LMEs), and hospitals across the state. We'll check in on this program to see if it's addressing short term mental health needs and helping to take pressure off the psychiatric hospitals in North Carolina.
Guests
Mebane Rash - Editor of Insight North Carolina, the journal for the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, and co-author Serving Mental Health Patients in Crisis
John Quinterno - Principal with South by North Strategies and co-Author, Serving Mental Health Patients in Crisis