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Atrium Health and WakeMed Health announced a plan to merge on Friday, May 1, 2026. The plan has drawn criticism from state officials and a vote by the Wake County Board of Commissioners may be postponed.<\/p>\n
The Wake County Board of Commissioners may delay its vote to approve WakeMed\u2019s merger<\/a> with Charlotte-based Atrium Health.<\/p>\n It is on the \u201cconsent agenda<\/a>\u201d portion of Monday\u2019s meeting agenda. The consent agenda is supposed to consist of non-controversial items that can be voted on together, without discussion. An item can be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately if a commissioner requests it.<\/p>\n State Treasurer Brad Briner<\/a> and state Rep. Mike Schietzelt<\/a>, who represents northern Wake County, said on social media that the commissioners will not vote on the proposed plan Monday, as scheduled. Schietzelt said in the Sunday social media post that he heard about the decision from a county commissioner.<\/p>\n However, Dara Demi, chief communications officer for Wake County government, told The News & Observer in an email Sunday that the board \u201chas taken no formal action on any items on the May 4 meeting agenda since it was published on Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n I heard from one of our Wake County Commissioners this morning that they intend to delay this vote. That’s the right move. This merger will significantly impact the cost and quality of care across Wake County. It merits a transparent, deliberative process. https:\/\/t.co\/ATxX1udmyW<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rep. Mike Schietzelt (@mikefor35) May 3, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n This weekend I sent a letter to the Wake County commissioners sharing my concerns with the Atrium\/WakeMed merger. Thankfully the Board is going to delay the vote. This proposed move will increase already high healthcare costs with no meaningful investment in Wake County. #ncpol<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/PvbmOoOrEx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Brad Briner (@brad_briner) May 3, 2026<\/a> State officials share concerns about WakeMed-Atrium merger<\/p>\n The vote would combine two of the state\u2019s largest healthcare systems. WakeMed said the merger would result in a $2 billion investment in the health system, redeveloping and expanding its facilities in Raleigh and Cary, and would create 3,300 new healthcare jobs in Wake County over the next five years, The News & Observer previously reported.<\/p>\n \u201cWakeMed and Atrium Health are united in a shared commitment to serving our communities, and by building upon our complementary strengths, we can have an even greater impact on the health and well-being of Wake County and the entire state,\u201d WakeMed CEO and President Donald Gintzig said in a statement Friday.<\/p>\n Regulators would review the proposed merger before any integration occurred, WakeMed said, and officials from the two healthcare systems would hold a press conference Tuesday to \u201cshare information, answer questions, and address any misconceptions.\u201d<\/p>\n However, several state lawmakers and government officials expressed concerns about the merger\u2019s impacts on healthcare affordability.<\/p>\n Briner, the state treasurer, had previously shared concerns about the proposed merger after it became public Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a simple business principle that when suppliers consolidate and competition is reduced it is the consumers who suffer,\u201d Briner said in a Friday statement<\/a>. \u201cThis has been proven to be true time and again in the health care landscape, where prices continue to rise and patients are left with mounting medical debt.\u201d<\/p>\n As of Sunday afternoon, state officials including State Auditor Dave Boliek had expressed concerns about the plan.<\/p>\n \u201cThe rollout of the proposed hospital takeover raises questions,\u201d Boliek wrote in a Sunday letter<\/a> asking for a delay of the vote. \u201cThe lack of transparency does not instill confidence, in fact, it calls for greater scrutiny and explanation.\u201d<\/p>\n The State Employees Association of North Carolina, which represents state employees and retirees, also weighed in.<\/p>\n In a letter<\/a> to county commissioners, SEANC executive director Ardis Watkins asked for a vote against the proposed merger, or at least a delay in voting until the board has held \u201cstructured public listening sessions.\u201d It also asked for an independent analysis of the projected impact of the proposed merger on insurance costs for the State Health Plan.<\/p>\n \u201cA transaction that weakens the State Health Plan\u2019s negotiating position with a dominant regional provider will not affect only Wake County residents \u2014 it will ripple across the entire state plan, raising costs for the hundreds of thousands of state employees and retirees who rely on it,\u201d Watkins wrote.<\/p>\n What is Atrium Health?<\/p>\n Atrium Health is part of Advocate Health<\/a>, the nation\u2019s third-largest nonprofit academic health system. Advocate Health is centered around Wake Forest University School of Medicine.<\/p>\n In 2017, Atrium, then known as Carolinas HealthCare, previously tried to merge<\/a> with UNC Health, forming one of the biggest nonprofit healthcare networks and academic research centers in the U.S.<\/p>\n Months later, though, the deal came apart<\/a> over disagreements about who would control the joint operating company that would oversee operations.<\/p>\n This is a developing story. Check back for updates.<\/p>\n The News & Observer\u2019s Richard Stradling contributed reporting.<\/p>\n This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 2:19 PM.<\/p>\n
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