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Crippling Health Workforce Shortages Mean Hospitals Can’t Admit Mental Health Patients—Even if Beds Are Empty

The NC Department of Health and Human Services' new bed tracker found that during the week of Feb. 20, 489 people were waiting to be admitted to one of the state’s psychiatric facilities, with 253 of them were waiting for a psychiatric hospital.  

Courtney Crudup, 32, of Oxford, N.C., speaks on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, outside the North Carolina Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., at a news conference and vigil highlighting people who have died while lacking health insurance and urging lawmakers to expand Medicaid in the state. The Republican-controlled House and Senate passed separate, bipartisan measures in June that address expansion, but legislators, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and lobbying groups are still trying to hammer out a compromise (AP Photo/Gary D. Robertson).
Lawmakers Are Back in Raleigh With Health Care Policy Wish Lists for the Coming Year

As the new legislative session begins, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expect healthy debate about Medicaid expansion, mental health care, abortion and other issues.