WakeMed today submitted a formal request for financial statements and other records from UNC Health, to determine if the system has been using public money to "shift services and gain an unfair competitive advantage over WakeMed, other hospitals and physician practices throughout the community."
WakeMed, which is trying to protect its position as Wake County's largest hospital system, claims that recent actions by UNC and its its Raleigh subsidiary Rex Healthcare will drive up medical costs for consumers, and do little to improve care in the Triangle. That includes recent affiliations with local physician practices, and proposed expansions at Rex's main Raleigh campus.
“WakeMed made the request due to numerous recent transactions by UNC Health Care which have raised serious public-policy questions,” said WakeMed CEO Bill Atkinson, in a prepared statement. “Specifically, the records request is to determine if UNC Health Care and Rex Healthcare are improperly using taxpayer dollars to compete with WakeMed and other health care institutions by investing in physician practices and other facilities.”
UNC and Rex officials have said that such moves will provide needed services to a growing population. They also say that the federal health overhaul is spurring such moves to improve cost and quality.
But WakeMed officials are questioning whether UNC should be given millions of dollars in taxpayer money every year to pay for expansions that will hurt existing health providers. UNC will receive about $36 million from the state this year to help compensate for the charity care it provides.
WakeMed is seeking, among other documents, audited financial statements for UNC Health, Rex Healthcare and Triangle Physicians Network, a nonprofit subsidiary UNC and Rex set up in October to start a network of local doctors' practices.
"We have received the records request and we're reviewing it," said UNC Health spokeswoman Karen McCall. "UNC is committed, as always, to complying with the obligations of the public records law."
Assistant Business Editor Alan M. Wolf joined the N&O in 1999 covering the business of health care. He became an editor in 2001, and helps oversee the paper's daily business coverage and Sunday Work&Money section. He lives in Clayton with his wife and two children. Reach him at 919-829-4572 or
Comments
Cooperating For the Welfare of the Citizens
Mon, 11/29/2010 - 19:37 — bilgewaterThis is not a contest between the Ford and Chevy dealers in North Carolina.
Supposedly, the medical industry and insurance industry has the interest of patients in mind when they treat our citizens for illnesses or accidents.
The power to insure is the power to destroy.The power to insure is the power to kill
.One would think these doctors and hospitals would understand this about the citizens. Their position relies upon the good will of the citizens who can legislate complete control over pricing and access to records.
WakeMed was put here (originally) to car for underserved
Wed, 12/01/2010 - 01:07 — inquisikittyI understand that REX frequently defers patients to WakeMed, particularly those patients that cannot pay or have no insurance. WakeMed is a private, not for profit hospital to take care of all in need of its services. WakeMed cannot support its financiel
Sadly, REX does not take care of the same group of people. Never has. Never will -- unless someone calls attention to it.
Wake Mem
Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:29 — feedupvoterI think this is funny. Wake Med wanted records. I ask for the something like that last year.I had someone in the hospital and with insurance and they wanted their money as some as you checked out. Our insurance paid and then we got the bill. But it was not 80/20. So we decided to pay them per month. One month they would send a bill and the next month they would not send a bill, then you get a call from a collection company. You would have to call Wake Med and they would say how sorry they were and then sent you a bill. Wake Med. got more from us then most people, we pay insurance and then still get a bill. But how about the ones that never get a bill. How fair is that? But back to the records deal, we know someone that was in the hospital for a long time and in icu and because of their job they never got a bill. So, can I get those records to see why they were not billed? It was not job relative.
Are you kidding me?!?
Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:21 — Steve_CrispWake hospital opened in the 1950s as a publically funded institution. It was in competition at that time with Rex Hospital which was a privately-owned medical institution. That was public money in competition with private enterprise.
Now the tables are turned and WakeMed is grousing?
What a bunch of hypocritical fools.