North Carolina medical journal
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Since 2005, Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare (PBH) has operated North Carolina's only managed care Medicaid waiver program. Legislation was recently passed requiring that the waiver program be expanded statewide by January 2013. Experience with the PBH model suggests that this expansion can result in significant savings without compromising quality or access.
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An unprecedented number of North Carolinians are coming to hospital emergency departments with behavioral health needs. There are significant delays after emergency treatment as the patient awaits placement in an inpatient facility often requirig the patient to be "boarded" in the hospital. Any viable solution to this "crisis" crisis will require significant community collaboration.