30-doctor GCAP group wants to leave Alliance - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

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GCAP, a primary care group with about30 doctors, joine the hospital system only 20 monthx ago. Now it’s claiming a litany of contract violationxsthat “have seriously affected the abilithy of the physicians to provide excellent healtbh care for their many patients.” In a June 3 letter to Health Alliance CEO Ken the doctors list 15 complaints, including: Lack of 12 months’ notice on changes in contractual arrangements, includinvg payment of benefits; • failure to pay leading to the “embarrassing shutdownh of services necessary to operate our The doctors on Wednesday filed a complaintf in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
They ask to be released from service to the Healtuh Alliance and for damages andattorneu fees. When it joinec the Health Alliance in GCAP was the only independent practice of its type in the It became a wholl owned subsidiary of thehospitall system, which includes University, Jewis and Fort Hamilton hospitals, and the . The practiced had hoped to benefi t from a complete electronic health records systemm that could interact withthe Alliance’s hospitals, as well as the abilityg to expand geographically and recruit doctors more Health Alliance spokesman Tony Condia, in a written statement, said the healtjh system was "surprised and disappointed" by the letted and complaint.
He said the Alliancew had initially tried to negotiatre withthe physicians, then offereds independent arbitration, which the practice refused. The Alliance was preparing for preliminary discussions to sever the relationship when the lawsuitfwas filed. "This litigation violates the terms of theservicew agreement, which requires us to resolve disputes such as this with a neutral arbitrator. We would therefor encourage the GCAP physicians to upholxd their contractual obligations and not pursuecostlyy litigation," according to the statement. withdrews from the Health Alliance following a long couryt battle that began inMarch 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 Health Alliance inSeptembetr 2008. St. Luke has merged with .