A vote scheduled Monday during the Wake County Board of Commissioners meeting could decide the fate of WakeMed, a long-standing healthcare system in Wake County.
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WRAL News asked county commissioners where they stand on the deal that would merge Atrium Health and WakeMed through a $2 billion investment.
The proposed merger requires approval from county commissioners. Critics have raised concerns that combining the systems could lead to higher healthcare costs.
Wake County commissioners raise concerns
One county commissioner told WRAL she plans to vote "no" on Monday.
Commissioner Vickie Adamson, who represents District 7, told WRAL in a statement Sunday:
After much consideration and prayer, I intend to vote no on the proposed amendment to the transfer agreement that would allow WakeMed to move forward in becoming part of Atrium Health. In the very short time I've had with the documents, it's not clear to me that the changes address the concerns Wake County residents have about the substance of the agreement. I am very concerned about costs increasing if WakeMed merges with Atrium. I don't have confidence that amending the transfer agreement in this way won't directly lead to increased health care cost. I received the new documents on Thursday night at the same time as the public and the media. These are complicated legal documents that require time to review and discuss together as a County Commission, and for us to engage with questions from the public. This timeline doesn't let up do either of those things. I spoke out on this issue in May because the process felt rushed and undemocratic, and I feel the same about where we stand today. I'm just not comfortable being part of setting a precedent for rushed, undemocratic decision making in Wake county. I ran for County Commission on a commitment to good governance, and this is not good governance.
Commissioner Tara Waters, who represents District 5, where WakeMed's Raleigh Campus is located, told WRAL that she has heard concerns and feedback from residents about the deal.
Waters said she is concerned the revised agreement includes complicated legal and health care language that residents may not have enough time to fully understand before Monday's decision.
While not specifying how she would vote, Waters said, "It’s an important decision and one that I will do thoughtfully, prayerfully, and with the citizens of Wake County in mind.”
Gov. Josh Stein does not oppose deal
In a statement Sunday, Gov. Josh Stein said he "does not oppose the combination" after revisions were made to include a $150 million community benefit fund, charity-care protections and clarification of Atrium's $2 billion investment over 15 years.
“The proposed transaction between Atrium and WakeMed has improved substantially in recent days. Health care costs are too high, so I asked Atrium to cap price increases at WakeMed to not more than 1.5 times the annual increase in Medicare costs for the next five years. I am pleased that Atrium has agreed to my request. We need broader health care reform to address rising costs, and I am committed to partnering with the General Assembly to make health care cost less for North Carolinians.
Additionally, I am pleased that Atrium responded to my concerns about the source of funds for the $2 billion investment in WakeMed capital projects by agreeing that Atrium will fully fund that investment. I also appreciate Atrium’s new commitments to increase WakeMed’s annual amount of minimum indigent care from 4.8 percent to 8 percent of total adjusted revenue and to create a $150 million fund that will benefit the community.
Because Atrium has addressed a number of concerns about the deal’s impact on North Carolinians, I do not oppose the combination.”
Stein originally raised concerns about the deal after it landed on the county commissioners' agenda in May.
Union, advocacy groups raise concerns about workers, patients
Before Monday's vote, patients and workers gathered in downtown Raleigh for one final push against the agreement.
The Patients Union held a rally at Nash Square, arguing that despite changes to the deal, it still does not include enough protections against potential increases in what patients pay.
The revised agreement limits certain WakeMed price increases for five years, strengthens charity-care commitments and includes the $150 million community benefit fund.
After the rally, the group planned to deliver a petition signed by more than 1,500 Wake County residents.
The Triangle Central Labor Council also raised concerns about the proposed transfer.
"The Triangle Central Labor Council, a democratically elected body representing more than 20,000 union members across the Triangle, continues to have serious concerns about the proposed transfer of WakeMed Health & Hospitals to Atrium Health," the group wrote in a statement Sunday.
On Friday, advocacy groups told WRAL they remained concerned that Atrium's growing size could lead to higher costs.
"Atrium is already the biggest. When they become even bigger, they're going to take that and squeeze more money out of us," one advocate said.
