Charter Behavioral Health Systems
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Healthcare |
| Predecessor | Charter Medical Corporation |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Fate | Filed for bankruptcy; divested facilities |
| Headquarters | Alpharetta, Georgia , United States |
Area served | 21 states, United States |
| Products | Psychiatric hospitals and treatment centers |
| Owner | Crescent Operating, Inc (90% ownership in 2000) |
Charter Behavioral Health Systems was once a prominent American private company specializing in psychiatric hospitals and treatment centers. At its height, it stood as the largest operator of such institutions in the United States but filed for bankruptcy in 2000, subsequently divesting numerous facilities to other healthcare providers.
Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, Charter conducted operations across 21 states. The organization was established in 1979, succeeding Charter Medical Corporation, which had been founded in 1969. Throughout the 1980s, the company experienced considerable growth. However, Charter Medical entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1992, a consequence of financial burdens stemming from a management buyout completed in 1988.
Following its financial reorganization, the entity rebranded as Magellan Health Services during the mid-1990s. Within this structure, Charter Behavioral Health Systems functioned as a subsidiary overseeing a broad network of psychiatric facilities nationwide.
The company’s advertising was distinguished by the slogan, "If you don't get help at Charter, please, get help somewhere." By the year 2000, when it again sought bankruptcy protection, Crescent Operating, Inc held a 90% ownership stake in the company.
Legacy
Several of Charter’s former institutions, such as the Provo Canyon School and Suncoast Behavioral Health Center, continue to operate today under different ownership.