'Our lives are worth more': Town hall attendees demand to see more of planned WakeMed-Atrium merger

Community members demanded to see what else is in a proposed merger between WakeMed and Atrium Health during a town hall on Monday in Raleigh.

The town hall began around 6 p.m. at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in Raleigh on Darby Street. The town hall was testy at times, with hundreds of people packing the pews to voice their concerns over the proposal.

"Our lives are worth more than some deal they're making in the backroom," said Denise Perry, who was in attendence for the meeting.

Atrium Health plans to merge with WakeMed in a new deal that could bring at least $2 billion in investment to Wake County.

WakeMed has said that Atrium's financial backing will help them serve a growing population, but opponents say the plan could lead to higher costs and lower quality of care.

The meeting was organized by The Patients Union, a national group represented by local faith leaders. Those leaders say this is a personal fight, one that grows out of love for WakeMed.

"The hospital that allowed me to hear my son's laugh. The hospital that gave my children a chance to grow up with their mother," another attendee said.

The deal, which would require approval from the Wake County Board of Commissioners, has drawn considerable scrutiny and criticism from state officials since it was announced in May. Commissioners delayed an initial vote on the plan.

If commissioners ultimately agree to the merger, state or federal regulators could attempt to block it. However, the bar for doing that is high and comes with legal roadblocks.

Earlier this month, several community groups spoke out in Raleigh on Monday against the proposed merger between WakeMed and Charlotte-based Atrium Health. 

"We need guarantees that services will not be cut, guarantees that charity care will not be weakened, guarantees that staffing will not be reduced," Wayne Wilhelm with the NC Poor People's Campaign said. "This deal does not give patients the guarantees we need."

Among the demands of organizers of Monday's town hall: To be allowed to see the full deal between the two hospital systems. WakeMed CEO DOnald Gintzig said that will not be possible.

"It's a private agreement between a separate, private entity. It's got competitive information in it," Gintzig said.

Gintzig also pointed out that county leaders are getting a closer look. Three more Wake County commissioners, including Cheryl Stallings, as well as county attorneys, were allowed to view mor of the deal on Monday.

"We have not made any decisions yet. We're still in listening mode," Gintzig said.