How An Emory and WellStar Merger Could Affect Consumers

Emory University and WellStar Health System are in talks to merge their medical assets in metro Atlanta.

If a deal happens, the nonprofit health system would be Georgia’s biggest and one of the largest such organizations in the nation.

Andy Miller, CEO and Editor of Georgia Health News discussed the possible merger on GPB’s On Second Thought Tuesday.

Miller said the marriage of the community hospital system with the strong academic medical center would create a "real powerhouse when it comes to dealing with health insurers and insurance networks and things like that".

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Miller said the combination of health systems could give those living in the Atlanta suburbs access to Emory University’s clinical trials.

But Miller also foresees a downside. He said the merger could lead to higher patient premiums.

“It’s very likely that the insurer will pass that higher cost onto employers and onto individual consumers,” he predicted. “At the end of the day, patients may be experiencing a little bit higher premiums or a little bit higher out of pocket costs in terms of deductibles and things like that.”

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