![\"Opponents](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789970528_976_RAL_WAKEMEDATRIUM-NE-070626-RTW_4.JPG\" "\\"Opponents")
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Opponents of a proposed merger between WakeMed and Atrium Health display their opposition, prior to the Wake County Commissioners meeting on Monday, July 6, 2026 in Raleigh, N.C.<\/p>\n
Robert Willett<\/p>\n
rwillett@newsobserver.com<\/p>\n
Two Wake County commissioners told The News & Observer Sunday that they will not support the WakeMed-Atrium merger when it comes to a vote on Monday.<\/p>\n
Commissioners Vickie Adamson and Tara Waters \u2014 two of seven on the board of commissioners \u2014 said Sunday night they will vote against it.<\/p>\n
Adamson told The News & Observer she is concerned about healthcare costs for residents increasing if the merger goes through.<\/p>\n
\u201cI received the new documents on Thursday night at the same time as the public and the media,\u201d she said in a statement. \u201cThese are complicated legal documents that require time to review and discuss together as a County Commission, and for us to engage with questions from the public.\u201d<\/p>\n
The timeline between Thursday and the 2 p.m. Monday vote doesn\u2019t allow for that, she said.<\/p>\n
The merger deal was altered from the original proposal.<\/p>\n
The new deal language would nearly double WakeMed\u2019s indigent care commitment for people who have trouble paying, would put stronger language around Atrium\u2019s pledge to invest $2 billion in capital hospital improvements, would loosen some of Atrium\u2019s control over WakeMed\u2019s board of directors and ,would restrict certain tactics in medical debt collection.<\/p>\n
\u201cI spoke out in May because the process felt rushed and undemocratic, and I feel the same about where we stand today,\u201d Adamson said.<\/p>\n
In May, the deal was announced on a Friday, with commissioners set to approve the parts of the merger they have control over the following Monday. They would have voted on it as a consent agenda item, which is a list of items considered noncontroversial and voted on all at once.<\/p>\n
Waters said in an interview Sunday night that \u201cI\u2019m not comfortable moving forward with a decision of this magnitude on this timeline.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said she hadn\u2019t thought yet about delaying the vote on the merger, but added, \u201cI won\u2019t vote in a matter that moves this forward, there are too many unknowns.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adamson said she would not move for a delay in the vote.<\/p>\n
Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair Don Mial has previously stated his support for the deal publicly, but in more recent months has not responded to The N&O\u2019s questions about the deal. Commissioners are set to have media availability after their meeting Monday.<\/p>\n