>>State moves closer to converting addiction center to psych hospital for kids

The state moved one step closer to opening a new psychiatric hospital for children with a “certificate of need” exemption that was signed into law Friday.

In December, the state announced a partnership with UNC Health to convert the R.J. Blackley Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center into 54 inpatient psychiatric beds, which are expected to come online next summer.

UNC administrators said they hope the new facility will help address a worsening mental health crisis among North Carolina’s children. Demand for urgent and significant psychiatric treatment has dramatically outpaced the number of inpatient beds the state has to offer, state officials said.

The law means that organizers of this project will not need to seek approval from the Department of Health and Human Services before converting the center into a psychiatric hospital, as health care providers usually would.

“This new law will help more children and young people get the inpatient psychiatric care they need and continues our efforts to improve mental health care in North Carolina,” Cooper said in a statement.

Teddy Rosenbluth covers science and health care for The News & Observer in a position funded by Duke Health and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work.