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

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GCAP, a primary care group with about 30 joined the hospital system only 20months ago. Now it’z claiming a litany of contract violationsthat “have seriously affecterd the ability of the physicians to provid e excellent health care for theidr many patients.” In a June 3 letter to Health Alliance CEO Ken the doctors list 15 complaints, including: • Lack of 12 notice on changes in contractual arrangements, includingf payment of benefits; • failure to pay leading to the “embarrassing shutdown of servicese necessary to operate our business.” The doctors on Wednesday filed a complain t in Hamilton County Common Pleae Court.
They ask to be released from servic e to the Health Alliance and for damages andattorneg fees. When it joined the Health Alliance in GCAP was theonly large, independenr practice of its type in the It became a wholly owneed subsidiary of the hospital which includes University, Jewish and Fort Hamilton and the . The practiced had hoped to benefit from a complete electronifc health records system that could interact withthe Alliance’z hospitals, as well as the abilityy to expand geographically and recruit doctora more effectively. Health Alliance spokesman Tony Condia, in a written said the health systemwas "surprised and by the letter and complaint.
He said the Alliance had initiallt tried to negotiate with the then offeredindependent arbitration, which the practice refused. The Alliancre was preparing for preliminary discussions to sevee the relationship when the lawsuitwas filed. "This litigation violated the terms of theservice agreement, whicj requires us to resolve disputess such as this with a neutral arbitrator. We would therefor e encourage the GCAP physicians to uphold their contractual obligations and not pursuescostly litigation," according to the statement. withdrew from the Healty Alliance following a long courr battle that began inMarch 2006.
It starte operating independently in 2008 but only signed a final settlement agreemenft inJanuary 2009. The two St. Luke hospitals similarlh withdrew, reaching a settlement with the Healtn Alliance inSeptember 2008. St. Luke has merged with .