By Flynn Snyder, WRAL reporter

Several community groups spoke out in Raleigh on Monday against the proposed merger between WakeMed and Charlotte-based Atrium Health. 

Speakers included members from advocacy group The Patients Union, NC Justice Center, and Raleigh-Apex NAACP.

Opponents urged Wake County commissioners to vote against the deal, citing a Brown University School of Public Health report that says the deal could drive up healthcare costs, impact affordability for low-income patients, and cut local control. 

"We need guarantees that services will not be cut, guarantees that charity care will not be weakened, guarantees that staffing will not be reduced," Wayne Wilhelm with the NC Poor People's Campaign said. "This deal does not give patients the guarantees we need."

WakeMed is one of the smallest hospital networks in the state. Atrium is one of the biggest in the nation. The proposed merger would put Atrium in charge of WakeMed. Under the deal, Atrium Health would take control of the nonprofit entity that operates WakeMed. In return, Atrium has promised to invest at least $2 billion in WakeMed’s expansion plans throughout the county.

The deal, which would require approval from the Wake County Board of Commissioners, has drawn considerable scrutiny and criticism from state officials since it was announced in May. Commissioners delayed an initial vote on the plan. Last month, WakeMed and Atrium executives met with commissioners in a work session to answer questions about the two systems’ proposed merger.

“The Wake County Commission has not yet set a date to vote on changes to two legal documents, regarding the proposed strategic combination of WakeMed and Atrium Health. Approval of these documents would enable the hospitals to proceed with regulatory reviews. In the meantime, we welcome feedback from the community as we shape our views on this issue," Board Chair Don Mial said in a statement to WRAL. 

During Monday's press conference, opponents said the deal would lead to higher patient costs and decreased quality of care for low-income patients.

"Bigger often means higher prices and less accountability," Portia Rochelle with the Raleigh-Apex NAACP said. "This is not a rescue. this is a takeover."

Representatives from WakeMed who support the deal spoke during Monday's Wake County Commission meeting. Proponents say Atrium's financial backing would allow WakeMed to have more assistance and safety-net care as the county continues to grow. 

"This is about making sure WakeMed has the resources to remain strong, clinically excellent, and committed to Wake County," WakeMed critical care physician Dr. Dan Fox said. Meanwhile, a WakeMed spokesperson said The Patients Union's statements are a "misunderstanding" of the proposed partnership.

 "No one in this group has reached out to us to raise concerns, ask questions or gain accurate information. So, over the holiday weekend, we extended an offer to meet with any representative interested in learning the facts," a WakeMed spokesperson wrote in an email to WRAL.

Members of the groups that spoke out on Monday said they had not received WakeMed's offer. 

WakeMed executives have been adamant that decisions would be made locally, even though WakeMed would be giving up full governance autonomy. Under the deal, Wake County would retain control of eight of WakeMed’s 14 board seats. Atrium, which would control six, would become the sole corporate member of the nonprofit entity that runs WakeMed. WakeMed would remain a nonprofit charitable organization.   

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