RALEIGH, N.C.  – North Carolina House budget-writers want to raze a heavily scrutinized state program that pays for non-medical care for mental health patients living at home.

A draft proposal released Thursday by the health budget subcommittee would phase out the “community support” services program through Medicaid, saving $176 million.

A 2007 review of the program said it may have wasted hundreds of millions of dollars in overpriced or unnecessary care.

The Department of Health and Human Services has since clamped down on payment rates and limited service hours. But subcommittee co-chairwoman Rep. Verla Insko said it’s still not good enough. She said House members would direct state officials to build a new program from the ground up with more limitations.