Health Access Network

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein says he will not stand in the way of a planned merger between Atrium Health, the state's largest health care system, and Raleigh-based WakeMed. The combination would create one of the biggest hospital networks in North Carolina, and Stein's decision removes a significant political obstacle to the deal moving forward.

Volunteers and advocates with the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network visited Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress, urging support for cancer research funding and patient-focused legislation. The advocacy day brings grassroots concerns about prevention, treatment access, and federal research investment directly to lawmakers, and is part of the organization's ongoing effort to keep cancer policy on the national legislative agenda.

Sentara Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield are in a contract dispute that could affect patients across Hampton Roads, Virginia. If no agreement is reached, Anthem policyholders could lose in-network access to Sentara hospitals, doctors and facilities. Patients in the region are being warned to watch for updates as negotiations continue between the two healthcare organizations.

Mental health struggles among military veterans are common, and attention is turning to how they can access support. Services such as the Veterans Crisis Line, VA counseling programmes and veteran service organisations are being highlighted as key resources. Advocates stress that reaching out early, reducing stigma and connecting veterans with peer networks can make a real difference for those coping with trauma, depression or PTSD.

Health Access Network, a healthcare provider, is the subject of an investigation into a potential class action lawsuit following a data breach. Lawyers are examining whether patients whose personal and medical information was exposed can pursue legal claims. Patients affected by such healthcare breaches typically face risks of identity theft and fraud, and investigations like this often precede formal litigation.

WVU Medicine has completed the acquisition of five facilities previously operated by Independence Health System, expanding its hospital network in the region. The deal brings the locations under the WVU Medicine umbrella, and local coverage highlights the change in ownership. The acquisition is expected to affect patients and staff at the transferred sites as operations are integrated into the larger health system.

Five Pennsylvania hospitals have officially become part of the WVU Medicine health system, expanding the West Virginia-based network's footprint across state lines. The affiliation involving Fulton County Medical Center remains pending and has not yet been finalized. The consolidation reflects ongoing hospital mergers aimed at strengthening regional care access and financial stability.

Midwest nonprofit health systems HealthPartners and Essentia Health have announced plans to merge, combining two of the region's major care providers. The deal would create a larger integrated health network spanning Minnesota and neighboring states. Industry watchers are weighing what the combination means for patients, costs and hospital consolidation across the upper Midwest.

Goshen Health, a hospital system in northern Indiana, is integrating with Fort Wayne-based Parkview Health. Patients and residents can expect visible changes as the transition proceeds, including new branding and updated signage at Goshen facilities, along with technology updates such as shared systems and records. The move folds the local provider into the larger regional network, a change likely to affect how area residents access and experience care.

Goshen Health, an Indiana-based healthcare provider, has announced a merger with Parkview Health. The move will bring Goshen's hospitals and services under the Parkview network, a significant consolidation in northern Indiana's healthcare landscape. Details on timing, finances and what the merger means for patients and staff have not yet been fully outlined.

Construction firm Skanska has completed a $27.3 million freestanding emergency department for Broward Health in Sunrise, Florida. The facility expands access to emergency care in western Broward County, adding to the health system's network of services outside its main hospital campuses. The project's completion was reported by South Florida Hospital News.