Gov. Mike Easley called for changes to the state's mental health system.
At a press conference this morning, he said he would urge legislators to transfer direct supervision of the state's mental health system back to the state Department of Health and Human Services after a reform that aimed to decentralize control.
He also called for a streamlined process to cut off private contractors that have been charging exorbitant fees for providing support services.
And he said he would propose a $40 million initiative to provide more beds in local psychiatric facilities and set up mobile crisis teams to travel the state and set up mobile crisis teams.
Easley said he would submit the recommendations to legislators during the upcoming short session.
The 2001 legislative reform of the mental health system "went too far too quickly," Easley said. He was particularly critical of measures that eroded the power of the secretary of health and human services over the mental health system.
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