Wake County Commissioners could vote on their portion of the proposed WakeMed-Atrium merger as soon as Tuesday, Sept. 8, capping nearly four months of public debate.
WakeMed responded to Gov. Josh Stein’s Aug. 17 letter, claiming that the hospital needs to merge with Atrium to keep up with expected growing demand in the Triangle area.
But WakeMed told the Governor’s agency, DHHS, just weeks ago that that its expansion plans — roughly $919 million in new construction, including new hospitals in Wendell and Rolesville — are not dependent on funding tied to the proposed agreement with Atrium Health, according to WRAL.
Independent financial experts who reviewed WakeMed’s books for North Carolina Health News agreed: WakeMed has close to $1 billion in cash and investments and looks capable of financing its own growth, and recent margins were far stronger than typical hospital margins.
NC Health News also found that a 2020 Atrium combination with Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem was followed by a 28% rise in inpatient prices there, compared with 20% at other N.C. hospitals over the same period, which could be a preview of what could happen in Wake County.
WakeMed also confirmed this week that two top leaders are departing, insisting that the moves aren’t tied to the merger.
