Governor Josh Stein will be visiting Greenville today to highlight new investments in behavioral health care as part of his proposed state budget.
Stein, joined by North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai, is set to tour ECU Health’s new behavioral health hospital. The facility includes 144 beds and provides treatment for adults experiencing severe mental illness, with plans to expand services to children and adolescents in the future.
The visit comes as part of the governor’s “Critical Needs Budget” proposal, which includes $319 million to fully fund Medicaid — the primary source of funding for behavioral health services in North Carolina.
The proposal also calls for a 10% pay raise for nurses and behavioral health technicians working in state hospitals, an effort aimed at improving staffing and patient care.
State leaders say the investment is critical as demand for mental health services continues to grow.