A new report is setting sights on the drawbacks of vertical integration as it relates to the long-standing conflict between Hampton Roads, Va.-area health systems Chesapeake Regional Medical Center and Sentara Healthcare, Becker’s reports.
Chesapeake has long taken issue with Sentara’s health plan, Optima, which it claims doesn’t cover all of Chesapeake’s services and thereby suffocates competition, according to the Virginia Mercury. Sentara commands over 70 percent of the local patient market.
Chesapeake commissioned a report on Sentara’s health plan, which claims the vertical integration only harms patients and surrounding health systems without benefiting members. This challenges Sentara’s stance that the health plan integration is best for patients. Read more.
