North Carolina Archives - Checks and Balances Project

Wall Street Journal Report Echoes C&BP Findings About Uninsured Patients

2021-07-7

In May, Checks and Balances Project showed that Sentara Healthcare makes IRS-required policies difficult to access, understand and use At least one uninsured patient was significantly overcharged Until Jan. 1, it was virtually impossible for the public to determine how much hospitals charged patients and insurance companies for the care they provided. Then an executive… Read more »

North Carolina Attorney General’s Office Cites C&BP Reporting In Derailed Sentara-Cone Health Merger

2021-06-22

“Your input was shared with the attorneys in our office who were in the midst of conducting a thorough review of this proposed affiliation.“ – North Carolina Attorney General’s office Last month, Checks & Balances Project (C&BP) asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to review the proposed, $11.5 billion merger between Sentara Healthcare and… Read more »

Sentara Called Off $11.5 Billion Cone Health Merger After Months Of Scrutiny

2021-06-3

An investigation by Checks & Balances Project exposed for regulators the company’s conflicts of interests, strong-arm tactics and potential overcharges of uninsured patients. Sentara Healthcare’s announcement Wednesday that it was no longer trying to merge with Cone Health of North Carolina follows a series of reports by Checks and Balances Project (C&BP) over the last… Read more »

Sentara Hires Virginia Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne as Chief of Staff to Defend Cone Merger

2021-06-2

(UPDATE: Sentara announced their merger with Cone Health was cancelled on June 2. The statement said the decision to not go forward was made by the Sentara and Cone boards late the previous week. Sentara announced Layne’s hiring on May 27. What role if any did Layne have in the decision to not go forward… Read more »

Checks & Balances Project Seeks FTC Investigation Of Proposed Sentara-Cone Health Merger

2021-05-7

Sentara Healthcare has used the state’s Certificate of Public Need process to block competitors, while a separate lawsuit accuses it of unfair business practices.

Sentara Answers “No” to Questions on Whether Kern Gets Compensation for Life and Offered Similar Deals to Merger Partners

2021-01-28

Though it took 20 emails and calls and a mobile billboard tour, a Sentara spokesperson finally provided answers about lifetime compensation.

Inconvenient Questions Tour Begins in Virginia and North Carolina

2021-01-26

Breaking: Sentara Spokesperson responds with definitive answers. Look for update coming soon.

Asked About Compensation for Life Scheme, Sentara CEO Kern Won’t Comment… Then Hangs Up

2021-01-5

It seems to be an unusual arrangement for a nonprofit health care system – especially one based in Hampton Roads, Virginia, where health disparities with minority and low-income populations are among the greatest in the nation.

Is Nonprofit Sentara Healthcare CEO Howard Kern Guaranteed a $5M+ Income for Life?

2020-12-27

A tipster asserts Mr. Kern is offering a similar deal to top executives at Cone Health, the North Carolina not-for-profit Kern wants to merge with in an $11.5 billion deal.

Inconvenient Questions Tour Rolls into House Speaker Moore’s Home Town

2018-11-6

Last month, we presented our analysis of Tim Moore’s invoices as part-time County Attorney to Cleveland County Manager Brian Epley, who pledged to look into the matter “quickly.” But three weeks later, there’s been no response. So, we decided to take our questions directly to the citizens of the county.