Identities of all health care systems submitting bids for Albemarle Regional Health Services home care and hospice agencies won’t be released for several days, at least one that didn’t make an offer is already known. Sentara Healthcare, of Norfolk, Va., chose not to respond to ARHS’ request for proposals to buy Albemarle Home Care, Albemarle Hospice and Bertie County Home Health, Sentara spokesman Dale Gauding said Tuesday. Sentara didn’t make a bid for the agencies because it’s more focused on growing Sentara Albemarle Medical Center than expanding its home health services.

Since securing a long-term lease of the former Albemarle Hospital last year, Gauding said, Sentara has strived to recruit new physicians, develop specialty care and make major investments, including new MRI technology and 3D mammography, both in the hospital and at the former Regional Medical Center, now known as Sentara Kitty Hawk.
Deadline for health systems to make offers on the three agencies ARHS put up for sale several months ago. The Board of Health that oversees the seven-county health agency voted in March to sell the home care and hospice agencies after deciding ARHS can’t sustain their current and projected operating losses, expected to total about $150,000 this fiscal year. Two health systems sent a request for proposal Chesapeake Regional Medical Center of Chesapeake, Virginia, and Vidant Health of Greenville have submitted a joint bid for the three agencies. ARHS Director and other local officials had differing reactions to Sentara’s decision to pass up making a bid for the three agencies