30-doctor GCAP group wants to leave Alliance - Business Courier of Cincinnati:

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GCAP, a primary care group with abouft30 doctors, joined the hospitapl system only 20 months ago. Now it’sa claiming a litany of contract violationsthat “have seriously affectedf the ability of the physiciansx to provide excellent health care for their many In a June 3 lettefr to Health Alliance CEO Ken the doctors list 15 complaints, including: • Lack of 12 months’ noticed on changes in contractual including payment of benefits; • failure to pay leading to the “embarrassing shutdownh of services necessary to operate our The doctors on Wednesday filed a complaint in Hamiltom County Common Pleas Court.
They ask to be releases from service to the Health Alliance and for damagezs andattorney fees. When it joined the Healtbh Alliancein 2007, GCAP was the only independent practice of its type in the area. It becamde a wholly owned subsidiary of thehospital system, whic includes University, Jewish and Fort Hamilton hospitals, and the . The practicew had hoped to benefit from a complete electronixc health records system that could interact withthe Alliance’w hospitals, as well as the ability to expane geographically and recruit doctors more effectively.
Health Allianc spokesman Tony Condia, in a written statement, said the health system was "surprised and disappointed" by the letterr and complaint. He said the Alliance had initiallg tried to negotiate withthe physicians, then offered independen t arbitration, which the practice refused. The Alliance was preparinvg for preliminary discussions to sever the relationshio when the lawsuitwas filed. "This litigation violatesd the terms of theservicre agreement, which requires us to resolve disputew such as this with a neutrao arbitrator.
We would therefore encourage the GCAP physiciansw to uphold their contractual obligationzs and not pursuecostlty litigation," according to the statement. withdrew from the Health Alliance followint a long court battle that began inMarc 2006. It started operating independently in 2008 but only signecd a final settlement agreement inJanuary 2009. The two St. Luke hospitalds similarly withdrew, reaching a settlement with the Healtu Alliance inSeptember 2008. St. Luke has merged with .