ECU Health announces 31 layoffs from Greenville Medicaid office

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - ECU Health has announced its plans to lay off 31 people from Greenville’s Medicaid office, Access East.

In mid-July, the government announced it was discontinuing funding for North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilots.

Pitt County’s HOP location, Access East, was not included in the 2026 budget, and ECU Health was instructed to begin a permanent mass layoff.

ECU Health officials said some positions at Access East are no longer funded and will be eliminated effective March 31st.

According to officials, nearly 28% of North Carolina residents are enrolled in Medicaid. The mass layoff leaves only two other HOP locations in North Carolina with full staff.

The Pitt County Council of Aging currently has internal Medicaid resources that work directly with Access East, leaving the senior center to reroute Medicaid procedures.

COA officials said this will cause longer wait times, frustration for people who can’t get information directly from the source, and people’s hope to get help.

“The health system is committed to supporting every team member through this transition and is actively exploring other internal opportunities for those impacted where possible,” ECU Health officials said.