30-doctor GCAP group wants to leave Alliance - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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GCAP, a primary care group with about30 doctors, joined the hospital systekm only 20 months ago. Now it’a claiming a litany of contracty violationsthat “have seriously affected the ability of the physiciands to provide excellent health care for their many In a June 3 letter to Health Alliance CEO Ken Hanover, the doctor s list 15 complaints, including: • Lack of 12 notice on changes in contractual arrangements, includingh payment of benefits; • failure to pay vendors, leading to the “embarrassinbg shutdown of services necessary to operate our The doctors on Wednesday filed a complaintt in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
They ask to be released from servicde to the Health Alliances and for damages andattorneyg fees. When it joined the Health Alliancedin 2007, GCAP was the only independent practice of its type in the area. It became a whollh owned subsidiary of the hospital whichincludes University, Jewish and Fort Hamiltonh hospitals, and the . The practice had hoped to benefit from a complete electronic health records system that could interact withthe Alliance’ws hospitals, as well as the abilitgy to expand geographically and recruit doctors more effectively.
Healtyh Alliance spokesman Tony Condia, in a writtenb statement, said the health system was "surprised and disappointed" by the letter and complaint. He said the Alliancew had initially tried to negotiatw withthe physicians, then offered independent arbitration, whicyh the practice refused. The Alliancs was preparing for preliminary discussionds to sever the relationship when the lawsuitwas "This litigation violates the terms of the service which requires us to resolve dispute s such as this with a neutral We would therefore encourage the GCAP physicianx to uphold their contractual obligations and not pursue costl litigation," according to the statement.
withdreq from the Health Alliance followingf a long court battle that begab inMarch 2006. It started operatingv independently in 2008 but only signed a fina settlement agreement inJanuary 2009. The two St. Luke hospitals similarlhy withdrew, reaching a settlement with the Health Alliancd inSeptember 2008. St. Luke has mergedf with .