\u201cIt\u2019s essential for our county \u2014 for future growth, for the quality of life for all residents \u2014 to make sure that there is an adequate safety net that is growing,\u201d said Pete Tannenbaum, executive director of Alliance Medical Ministry,<\/a> a nonprofit clinic based in Southeast Raleigh. \u201cAnd that\u2019s why I\u2019m in favor of this proposed merger. It allows WakeMed to grow and to serve our growing county.\u201d<\/p>\n But a coalition of community groups say they think the combination would lead to higher healthcare costs, the potential loss of local control and less care for low-income or uninsured patients. They call the proposed merger a \u201ctakeover\u201d by the Charlotte-based nonprofit<\/a> and urged commissioners to block it.<\/p>\n \u201cBy now the public has had the opportunity to review it,\u201d said the Rev. Frank White of Antioch Bible Fellowship in Raleigh<\/a>. \u201cAnd many of us believe at the end of the day this is a rotten deal for us and our community.\u201d<\/p>\n Before the merger can proceed, WakeMed needs Wake commissioners to approve changes to the documents<\/a> that allowed the county-owned Wake Medical Center to become a private nonprofit in 1997. Those changes were before the board on May 4, but it opted to delay a decision for 90 days to give WakeMed more time to answer questions. No vote has been scheduled.<\/p>\n Early on, county officials downplayed their role in approving the merger; the document changes appeared on the board\u2019s consent agenda, normally reserved for routine items that don\u2019t require public discussion.<\/p>\n \u201cA consent agenda is for fixing potholes,\u201d said the Rev. Rob Stephens of The Patients Union, which helped organize a press conference by opponents Monday. \u201cNot the most consequential decision that these county commissioners will make during their tenure.\u201d<\/p>\n The groups opposing the merger presented Wake commissioners with a 13-page report<\/a> written by researchers at the Brown University School of Public Health highlighting potential downsides.<\/p>\n Among them is the potential for higher costs. The report cites studies that show that \u201ccross-market mergers\u201d of health systems based in different metro areas push up patients\u2019 costs by 7% to 17%, echoing concerns raised by State Treasurer Brad Briner<\/a> the day the deal was announced.<\/p>\n The Brown researchers also concluded that the merger could reduce the amount of charity care WakeMed offers because Atrium and its parent company, Advocate Health,<\/a> have different policies. While WakeMed provides charity care for \u201cmedically necessary\u201d services, the report said, Atrium and Advocate limit it to urgent or emergency services, excluding those that can be safely postponed.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly if a patient\u2019s condition deteriorates to the point of becoming urgent would the Atrium\/Advocate policy clearly apply,\u201d the Brown researchers wrote. \u201cThus, as written, their policy would not cover serious and correctible chronic conditions that are not life threatening or actively worsening.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s not true, said Advocate Health spokesman Chris Berger, who said the Brown report mischaracterizes Atrium\u2019s financial assistance policy.<\/p>\n \u201cThe current policy does not limit financial assistance to emergency or urgent care,\u201d Berger wrote in an email. \u201cIt expressly covers both emergency services and medically necessary services, which are broadly defined as services a provider, exercising prudent clinical judgment, determines are appropriate to evaluate, diagnose or treat an illness, injury or disease.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wake commissioners will need to sort through the conflicting arguments and opinions before making a decision about the merger. If they approve, the Federal Trade Commission, along with the N.C. attorney general\u2019s office, must agree the merger doesn\u2019t violate state and federal antitrust laws that protect consumers from unfair business practices.<\/p>\n This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 6:50 PM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Raleigh News & Observer<\/p>\n![\"Rev.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/WAKEMEDATRIUM-NE-070626-RTW_5.jpg\" "\\"WAKEMEDATRIUM-NE-070626-RTW_5.jpg\\"")
Rev. Hershey Mallette Stephens displays her disapproval to the proposed WakeMed, Atrium merger, outside the Wake County Justice Center on Monday, July 6, 2026 in Raleigh, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com <\/p>\n![\"Opponents](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/WAKEMEDATRIUM-NE-070626-RTW_4.jpg\" "\\"WAKEMEDATRIUM-NE-070626-RTW_4.jpg\\"")
Opponents of a proposed merger between WakeMed and Atrium Health display their position before the Wake County Commissioners meeting on Monday, July 6, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com <\/p>\n![\"Donald](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RAL_WAKEMEDATRIUM-NE-070626-RTW_1.JPG\" "\\"RAL_WAKEMEDATRIUM-NE-070626-RTW_1.JPG\\"")
Donald Gintzig, president and CEO of WakeMed Health & Hospitals, talks with Octavia Rainey prior to the Wake County Board of Commissioners meeting. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com Contentious report at the heart of the dispute<\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/JUlq5IBr_400x400.jpg\")