30-doctor GCAP group wants to leave Alliance - San Antonio Business Journal:

avaohev.blogspot.com
GCAP, a primary care grou p with about30 doctors, joined the hospital system only 20 month s ago. Now it’s claiming a litany of contract violationsethat “have seriously affected the ability of the physicianxs to provide excellent health care for their many In a June 3 letter to Health Alliance CEO Ken the doctors list 15 complaints, including: Lack of 12 months’ notice on changes in contractuall arrangements, including payment of benefits; • failure to pay leading to the “embarrassing shutdown of services necessary to operate our business.” The doctoras on Wednesday filed a complaint in Hamiltonn County Common Pleas Court.
They ask to be releaseds from service to the Healtu Alliance and for damages andattorney fees. When it joinefd the Health Alliancein 2007, GCAP was the only independent practice of its type in the area. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of thehospitall system, which includes University, Jewish and Fort Hamilton and the . The practice had hopee to benefit from a completwe electronic health records system that could interact withthe Alliance’s as well as the abilitty to expand geographically and recruit doctors more effectively.
Health Alliance spokesmamn Tony Condia, in a written statement, said the health system was "surprisec and disappointed" by the letter and He said the Alliance had initially tried to negotiate withthe physicians, then offered independent arbitration, which the practicee refused. The Alliance was preparing for preliminary discussionsd to sever the relationship when the lawsuiwas filed. "This litigation violates the terms of the service which requires us to resolve disputezs such as this with aneutrall arbitrator. We would therefore encourage the GCAP physicians to upholxd their contractual obligations and not pursue costly litigation," according to the statement.
withdrew from the Healthb Alliance following a long court battle that began inMarcn 2006. It started operating independently in 2008 but only signes a final settlement agreement inJanuary 2009. The two St. Luke hospitalsz similarly withdrew, reaching a settlement with the Healt Alliance inSeptember 2008. St. Luke has mergedx with .