Op-Ed: Proposed budget language removing boundary limits on hospital authorities is bad policy
The state budget proposal currently being negotiated by House and Senate leaders contains language that would allow local hospital authorities to expand unfairly throughout the state. This is a bad idea.
Hospital authorities are public entities created by counties but act independently. They have government powers not available to other hospital systems, including eminent domain, antitrust immunity, and access to public financing. In exchange, hospital authorities are required to keep their operations within 10 miles of the county or counties that established them – a sensible check and balance.
Lifting the boundary limits on hospital authorities – like the state’s largest health system, Atrium Health – would give them a significant edge over their competitors due to the powers they’ve been granted, creating an unlevel playing field among our state’s healthcare providers. This could have a serious impact on patient costs and quality of care as these authorities push out or acquire other hospital systems that serve North Carolinians.
This proposed policy change is anti-competitive at its core and should be removed from budget consideration.
Elizabeth Johnson
Former Chair
Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce
Wake Forest, NC
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