Eastern NC Home Health and Hospice Shift to Liberty
Healthcare operators in eastern North Carolina should review partnership and staffing arrangements for post-acute services.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Healthcare
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ECU Health has transitioned its home health and hospice services to Liberty Home Care and Hospice, effective November 1, covering offices across eastern North Carolina. Staff at the affected offices face job changes as operations move to the new provider, with some employees offered transition opportunities.
Why it matters
The move reflects the financial pressure rural health providers face from declining reimbursements, pushing hospital systems to divest home-based care lines to operators with different staffing models. For healthcare businesses in the state, it signals that outsourcing or selling non-core post-acute services is becoming a practical path to protect margins.
A WARN notice filed in April listed 161 employees in the home health and hospice division slated for closure effective May 1, before the sale to Liberty was completed. The transition covers home health offices in Greenville, Windsor, Washington and Kenansville, plus hospice offices in Greenville, Ahoskie and Kenansville, along with the Service League of Greenville Hospice House.
The players
ECU Health
ECU Health is a North Carolina health system based in Greenville that operates hospitals and care services across eastern North Carolina.
Liberty Home Care and Hospice
Liberty Home Care and Hospice is a home health and hospice provider that acquired the ECU Health offices and takes over their patient care operations.
North Carolina Attorney General's Office
The North Carolina Attorney General's Office reviews and approves certain health care transactions, and it approved this sale.
The details
Under the agreement, Liberty Home Care and Hospice took over the operation of the listed home health and hospice offices. ECU Health and Liberty are working to maintain patient care, scheduling and communication during the handoff. Liberty will offer transition opportunities to some employees based on its staffing model, meaning not every existing role is guaranteed to carry over.
Timeline
March: ECU Health announced the sale of its home health and hospice services.
April: A WARN notice showed a planned closure of the division affecting 161 employees, effective May 1.
November 1: The transition to Liberty Home Care and Hospice took effect.
Market Landscape
Rural hospital systems have faced declining reimbursements for home health and hospice care, prompting some to exit or hand off these lines. ECU Health's transfer to Liberty follows that pattern of consolidation in post-acute care across the state.
Healthcare operators in North Carolina should review staffing and referral arrangements if they rely on home health or hospice partners in eastern counties. Those evaluating outsourcing of post-acute services should weigh staffing transition models and reimbursement pressure before committing.
The takeaway
Operators watching post-acute care should treat divestitures like this one as a signal that reimbursement pressure is pushing rural providers toward partnerships. Businesses weighing similar transitions should consult qualified counsel and their accountant on employment and contract terms.
Further reading
For broader context on how hospital systems are reshaping post-acute care, explore Healthcare coverage across North Carolina.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WCTI.
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