Share Copy link Email LinkedIn X/Twitter Facebook Print Illustration: Xavier Lalanne-Tauzia for Industry Dive North Carolina-based nonprofit hospital systems Atrium Health and WakeMed have proposed to merge, according to a Friday press release. Under the deal, Atrium, which is a part of Advocate Health, would largely take control of WakeMed, which would then integrate into Advocate. Atrium would also invest $2 billion into WakeMed over a decade. The deal has faced pushback from local government officials, who argue it could raise healthcare prices for Wake County residents. Concerns prompted the Wake County of Commissioners to delay a vote on the deal that was originally scheduled for Monday, after local officials argued residents needed more time to weigh in on the combination. The merger would allow Atrium, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and op…

WakeMed currently operates three community hospitals and several outpatient facilities. The system hasn’t struggled to turn a profit: Last year, it posted $176 million in net income. The two health systems say a combination would create the largest nonprofit mental healthcare network in the state and represent one of the largest healthcare investments in Wake County’s history. It would also create jobs and accelerate economic growth, the two systems say. However, Wake County officials are skeptical of the proposed merger, arguing it could increase costs and lower the quality of care. The state has seen several large health system mergers, including by Atrium: In 2022, Atrium merged with Advocate, two years after it had completed another merger with Wake Forest Baptist Health.