Attorney general concerned about costs to customers in hospital merger

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A hospital partnership deal could dramatically reshape health care in the Carolinas.

Attorney General Josh Stein told Channel 9 on Thursday that he's sent an investigative demand to Atrium Health and University of North Carolina Healthcare.

The public was first told about the partnership between Atrium and Carolinas Health System about seven months ago.

Since then, Stein said, he has not gotten any more information from either system.

This deal has already been criticized for being somewhat secretive.

[Newly-named Atrium Health to merge with Georgia-based healthcare company]

Last month, UNC Board of Governors member Tom Fetzer questioned whether the deal was legal because the board was kept out of the loop.

Stein said that he wants details about research that would show the impact that the partnership will have on prices, insurance and local practices.

"These mergers happen in other parts of the country and, when they do, it’s usually patients and businesses that end up paying a higher price,” Stein said. “I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen here in North Carolina.”

This is a legally binding request from the attorney general.

Atrium statement:

Atrium Health Statement on NC Attorney General Civil Investigative Demand We have received the request for information from Attorney General Josh Stein and the North Carolina Department of Justice regarding the proposed joint operating company between Atrium Health and UNC Health Care. This is expected for the complex and transformative combination we have been working on, and we look forward to answering their questions, since we both want what is best for the citizens of North Carolina.

As teams from Atrium Health and UNC Health Care are negotiating the remaining details of the joint operating agreement, our goal remains as it always has - to improve the health for North Carolinians by increasing access and affordability, advancing clinical care and contributing to our state's economic vibrancy.

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