"Community engagement is an important part of the work we do," said Board Chair Don Mial. "While the joining of these hospitals may be positive for Wake County, we want to be fully open and transparent about the process, and that includes allowing ample time for public feedback."
The proposal was first announced late Friday afternoon, drawing swift reaction from lawmakers who questioned both the specifics of the arrangement and how the deal came together.
"It would be helpful to have more transparency to the people of Wake County who ultimately have built WakeMed and who have relied on WakeMed for health care and, who and to the employees who live and work in the community of Wake County, on what exactly this deal is going to provide," said State Auditor Dave Boliek.
Commissioners announced the delay at the start of their meeting, saying the item would be deferred with no action allowed for at least 90 days.
Under the proposed agreement, WakeMed and Atrium Health leaders say the deal would strengthen health care in the region, including a $2 billion investment in Wake County and the creation of more than 3,300 health care jobs.
In a statement, WakeMed President and CEO Donald Gintzig wrote:
"For more than 65 years, WakeMed has been a beacon of hope and healing for the Wake County area and beyond. This combination represents a significant next step in building upon this legacy, expanding our impact and ensuring a thriving nonprofit health care future for all we serve. WakeMed 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."
Both Boliek and State Treasurer Brad Briner said they first learned of the deal when it was announced publicly.
"I got to be blunt with you. I think the (Wake) County Commission in the past has spent more time approving driveways than they have potentially approving a multi-billion dollar deal, which is ultimately what this will be," said Boliek.
"We run the state health plan. We insure the Wake County teachers, all the other public sector employees in Wake County, and this is going to be a price increase for all of them for their health insurance," Briner said.
As of Monday afternoon, Briner told ABC11 that he had not heard from either health system.
"My email is publicly available. It's on our website. And so they could have done that, but they've chosen not to for whatever reason," he said.
WakeMed operates three hospitals -- two in Raleigh and one in Cary -- along with eight emergency departments.
"You may not have a choice in which hospital you go to, and WakeMed's prices will go up," said Matt Reck, a state employee who has previously been a patient at WakeMed.
In a statement, Eugene A. Woods, Chief Executive Officer of Advocate Health, wrote:
"This combination is about meeting people where they are -- with care that fits their lives and stays rooted in the community. It starts with a $2 billion investment in Wake County -- one of the largest health care commitments this region has ever seen -- but the impact goes far beyond dollars. It means nationally recognized specialty care closer to home, more convenient and affordable care, including virtual visits, stronger mental health support, and 3,300 new health care jobs to help this community continue to thrive. We're honored to welcome WakeMed into the Atrium Health family, and we're excited about what we'll build together - for our neighbors, our patients, and our teammates - for many generations to come."
Briner remained concerned about costs.
"We continue to have prices go up everywhere. This would exacerbate that," Briner added. "So that's our first concern, is that you see that every time one of these hospital mergers occurs. And we see that in this state and many other states, prices go up between 6 and 12%. I don't know why this would be any different."
WakeMed leadership plans to hold a media briefing on Tuesday morning to discuss the proposed agreement.