State sued over mental health care cuts

RALEIGH (AP) — The state Department of Health and Human Services has been sued in federal court because of alleged cuts in mental health programs.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Tuesday that Legal Services of Southern Piedmont in Charlotte and the National Health Law Program are suing for a 12-year-old boy with an inherited condition that can cause learning and behavioral problems.

The lawsuit says Devon Tyler McCartney of Robeson County is autistic and epileptic. The lawsuit says his time with a mental health worker paid by Medicaid were cut last year from 28 hours a week to 21 hours a week until he lost services in January.

The lawsuit seeks class action status, saying his situation is an example of problems with the program.

Agency spokesman Brad Deen says the department will not talk about the litigation.

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Information from: The News & Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com

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