Wake County Approves WakeMed-Atrium Health Merger, Sends Deal to State Review

The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 on September 21, 2026 to approve the proposed merger between WakeMed Health & Hospitals and Atrium Health. The transaction now proceeds to North Carolina state regulatory review. The merger would combine Raleigh-based WakeMed with Charlotte-based Atrium Health, creating a larger health system footprint across the state. The deal has drawn scrutiny from local stakeholders during the county approval process.

Managed Care