WFAE
Cabarrus and Union counties have received state approval to cut ties with Cardinal Innovations Healthcare. Cardinal coordinates behavioral health care for Medicaid recipients in 20 North Carolina counties. At least four other counties — Mecklenburg, Forsyth, Stanly and Orange — have also taken steps to drop Cardinal.
Cabarrus and Union will switch to using a different agency, Partners Health Management, beginning Sept. 1, according to a joint press release issued by the counties and Partners on Friday.
Steve Morris, chair of the Cabarrus Board of Commissioners, said in the release that Partners will help advance what he called the county’s goal of "a safe, healthy community that provides appropriate mental health services.”