RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) submitted a letter to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Tuesday seeking voluntarily withdrawal of the inpatient treatment beds at Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center from participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, HHS announced Tuesday.

According to the news release from HHS, the effective date of the move is May 1.

"The action is a result of a recent CMS survey that found the facility could not continue to be certified as a psychiatric hospital if it serves patients with primary diagnoses of substance abuse," the release stated. "The decision was made to protect and preserve substance abuse treatment at the Greenville center. The facility will no longer bill Medicare or Medicaid for services it provides to clients admitted after April 30."

“We believe that this decision is the best for maintaining the patient care currently provided,” said Dave Richard, DHHS’ Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services in the statement. “The alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers are an important part of the full spectrum of patient care and we remain committed to serving these patients, regardless of their ability to pay.”

The Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center is a 66-bed facility in Greenville.