A Pennsylvania-based company plans to lay off 96 workers in Raleigh this fall after it lost a contract with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Liberty Healthcare Corp., which is based in the Philadelphia suburb of Bala Cynwyd, has filed a protest about losing the contract, but if the decision is not reversed, its workers at 5540 Centerview Drive who oversee whether residents are eligible for Medicaid services will lose their jobs. The expected separation date is Oct. 16.
The employees review Medicaid Personal Care Services applications for the state. It’s a North Carolina health assistance program for individuals who, because of a disability, are unable to accomplish tasks they would ordinarily do for themselves if they did not have a disability.
Keystone Peer Review Organization, part of Virginia-based Accentra Health, was awarded the contract, according to a Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman. The contract value is estimated at $400 million.
In a letter to Raleigh Mayor Mary Ann Baldwin, Liberty Healthcare Vice President of Operations Kate Obert wrote, “However, depending on the outcome of the legal proceeding and/or final transitions plans, the employment separations may occur later or not at all.”
If the decision is not reversed, the layoffs will be permanent, Obert added. She and other Liberty Healthcare officials did not respond to a request for comment.
The company is not to be confused with Liberty Healthcare Management of Wilmington, which operates dozens of nursing homes, retirement homes and hospice centers, as well as McNeil’s Pharmacy.