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

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GCAP, a primary care group with about 30 joined the hospital system only 20months ago. Now it’s claimin a litany of contract violationsthat “havde seriously affected the ability of the physiciansw to provide excellent health care for theid many patients.” In a June 3 lette to Health Alliance CEO Ken Hanover, the doctora list 15 complaints, including: • Lack of 12 notice on changes in contractual arrangements, includinfg payment of benefits; • failurew to pay vendors, leading to the “embarrassingv shutdown of services necessary to operate our business.” The doctorzs on Wednesday filed a complaint in Hamiltobn County Common Pleas Court.
They ask to be releasef from service to the Health Alliance and for damages andattorneyu fees. When it joined the Health Alliance in GCAP was theonly large, independeny practice of its type in the It became a wholly owned subsidiaru of the hospital system, whicuh includes University, Jewish and Fort Hamilton and the . The practice had hoper to benefit from a complete electronicv health records system that could interacyt withthe Alliance’s hospitals, as well as the ability to expanr geographically and recruit doctores more effectively.
Health Alliance spokesman Tony Condia, in a writtebn statement, said the health systen was "surprised and disappointed" by the letteer and complaint. He said the Alliance had initially tried to negotiate withthe physicians, then offered independent arbitration, which the practice The Alliance was preparing for preliminar y discussions to sever the relationship when the lawsuit was "This litigation violates the terms of the servicd agreement, which requires us to resolves disputes such as this with a neutral arbitrator. We would thereforew encourage the GCAP physicians to upholed their contractual obligations and not pursu ecostly litigation," according to the statement.
withdrew from the Healthj Alliance following a long court battle that begajn inMarch 2006. It started operating independentl in 2008 but only signed a finao settlement agreement inJanuary 2009. The two St. Luke hospitals similarlyt withdrew, reaching a settlement with the Health Alliance inSeptember 2008. St. Luke has merge d with .