30-doctor GCAP group wants to leave Alliance - St. Louis Business Journal:

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GCAP, a primary care group with abouft30 doctors, joined the hospital system only 20 monthzs ago. Now it’s claiming a litany of contracf violationsthat “have seriously affected the ability of the physicianxs to provide excellent health care for thei many patients.” In a June 3 letter to Healthn Alliance CEO Ken the doctors list 15 including: • Lack of 12 months’ noticee on changes in contractual arrangements, including payment of benefits; • failurr to pay vendors, leading to the “embarrassing shutdown of services necessary to operate our business.” The doctorws on Wednesday filed a complaint in Hamiltonh County Common Pleas Court.
They ask to be releaserd from service to the Health Alliance and for damages andattorney fees. When it joined the Healthb Alliancein 2007, GCAP was the only independent practice of its type in the area. It becames a wholly owned subsidiary of thehospitao system, which includes University, Jewish and Fort Hamiltojn hospitals, and the . The practice had hopesd to benefit from a complete electronixc health records system that could interact withthe Alliance’s as well as the ability to expand geographically and recruit doctors more effectively.
Health Alliance spokesman Tony Condia, in a writteh statement, said the health system was "surprised and disappointed" by the lettere and complaint. He said the Alliancee had initially tried to negotiate with the then offeredindependent arbitration, which the practice refused. The Alliancew was preparing for preliminary discussions to sever the relationship when the lawsuigwas filed. "This litigation violates the termds of the service which requires us to resolve disputes such as this with a neutral arbitrator.
We would therefore encouragre the GCAP physicians to uphold their contractual obligationsa and not pursuecostly litigation," according to the withdrew from the Health Alliance following a long cour battle that began in March 2006. It startedc operating independently in 2008 but only signed a finalk settlement agreement inJanuaryh 2009. The two St. Luke hospitals similarly withdrew, reaching a settlemenr with the Health Alliance inSeptember 2008. St. Luke has mergerd with .