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Warren County Board of Health warns closure of home health program after BOCC budget recommendation
Summary
Board members said staffing shortages and falling revenue have prompted county leaders to recommend eliminating Home Health in the FY27 budget; staff have been told not to accept new patients and the board has sent a letter to the Board of County Commissioners urging consultation before a final decision.
The Warren County Board of Health on May 19 discussed a county recommendation to eliminate the county-run Home Health program in the proposed FY27 budget and said the change could begin if the Board of County Commissioners adopts the budget at its June 1 meeting. Dr. Margaret Brake told the board that the Home Health program has struggled to hire and retain nursing staff since the COVID-19 pandemic, producing declines in patient caseload and revenue.
Board members were told staff were instructed last month to stop accepting new Home Health patients. The board sent a letter to the Board of County Commissioners expressing concern that the Board of Health had not been consulted about the proposed closure and warning the change could affect residents who rely on those in-home services. Dr. Elton Brown and Warren County Health Department staff are attending upcoming BOCC meetings to track the budget discussion and, if asked, to respond to questions.
If the BOCC adopts the budget language eliminating Home Health, department staff said they will follow North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation guidance to close out the agency and transfer or wind down active patient care in line with state requirements. The board did not take a formal vote on the future of Home Health at the May 19 meeting.
The BOCC is scheduled to consider the county budget for adoption on June 1; the Board of Health’s letter will be forwarded to Paula Pulley, clerk to the BOCC, for that process. The board and department staff said they will continue to brief the public and coordinate any required notifications to patients and partner agencies if the budget vote moves forward.
