ATLANTA – State Representatives Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta), Sam Park (D-Lawrenceville), Sandra Scott (D-Rex), Rhonda Burnough (D- Riverdale), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Mary Robichaux (D-Roswell), Shelly Hutchinson (D-Snellville), Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia), Donna McLeod (D-Lawrenceville) and Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain) today issued statements on the recent announcement from Wellstar Health System regarding the closure of its Atlanta Medical Center.
“Georgia is once again at the epicenter of a health care crisis,” said Rep. Schofield. “Yesterday’s announcement of yet another hospital closing in Georgia under this governor’s watch will have enormous health, economic and employment issues in Metro Atlanta and beyond. What remains more disturbing is the number of rural and small hospitals across the state that are still struggling and may ultimately suffer the same fate as Wellstar. Touting that ‘Georgia is a great place to do business’ are empty words when employees at Wellstar lost their jobs and a large segment of a vulnerable population of people continue to lose their access to hospitals. We have long needed corrective health care and hospital action from the governor and others who have not offered solutions, rather excuses; those who intentionally divest and withhold health care resources put lives at risk in urban and rural Georgia. Enough is enough!”
“Once again, Governor Kemp has failed the people of Georgia,” said Rep. Park. “His failure to expand Medicaid continues to harm Georgians. His failure to act has now caused six hospitals to shut down during his four years amidst the worst public health crisis in our nation’s history’s history. We need real leadership that will work across the aisle to take meaningful action to support our struggling hospitals, invest in our health care infrastructure and ensure that all Georgians have access to lifesaving health care.”
“Where do we go from here?” said Rep. Scott. “The closing of Wellstar didn’t just start yesterday. Georgia has a reserve of $1 billion, so there is no way we should be closing a level 1 hospital. The governor states that ‘he cares for Georgians,’ but more than 5,000 Georgians died from COVID, and the closing of Wellstar and his disdain for expanding Medicaid will further add to the death of Georgians. #SaveWellstar.”
“Hospitals in Georgia are finally able to breathe after COVID,” said Rep. Burnough. “Wellstar’s decision will put a burden on the hospitals that remain open, which means that those residents risk the chance of obtaining quality care. As a representative for Clayton County, the home of Southern Regional Hospital, I know that our hospital is the lifeline of the community. The closing will put more burden on ambulance services that will have to travel longer distances to take patients to the nearest hospital and those calling 911 will have longer wait times. Having a hospital ensures that residents are able to get immediate care, tests ordered by their doctor and that specialty doctors are located near their homes. When you remove the hospital, you are creating an unhealthy community. When Wellstar decided to close their hospitals, they obviously did not consider or care about the other hospitals. That is why we need to expand Medicaid so that hospitals will not have to close and can provide quality health care.”
“The number of hospitals to close in rural and urban districts in Georgia demonstrates a troubling and preventable trend,” said Rep. Davis. “We cannot afford to have Grady Hospital to be the only level 1 hospital in Metro Atlanta. Grady Hospital will now serve more than five million people. With more than 11 hospitals closing, understaffing of nurses and refusing to expand Medicaid, patients in Georgia are at increased harm when faced with trauma and critical accidents/emergencies.”
“We need to stop politicizing health care and reach solutions that will provide coverage and access to high quality care across Georgia,” said Rep. Robichaux.
“Do you know what would prevent another hospital closure in Georgia? Expand Medicaid!” said Rep. Hutchinson. “Just imagine how many jobs will be lost if Atlanta Medical Center is closed. It has been just as devastating for rural communities when their hospitals close.”
“Closing a vital hospital in a major metropolitan area is catastrophic,” said Rep. Carter. “With the growth in Atlanta, closing Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center has disastrous implications for new Atlantans, as well as marginalized residents in this metro area.”
“This governor has left a trail of dead bodies – 38, 218 from COVID-19,” said Rep. McLeod. “This is the same governor that told barbershops and beauty shops to open up without any guidelines during a pandemic. Now, he is overseeing the closure of a hospital in the metro area, joining the hospitals that have already been closed in rural Georgia. His refusal to expand Medicaid will surely add to his trail of dead Georgians.”
“The closing of another Wellstar medical facility in an already medically challenged community further sets a divide and widens the gap for health disparities,” said Rep. Bennett. “Every effort should be made to keep their hospital and medical facilities open in already underserved communities.”
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Representative Kim Schofield represents the citizens of District 60, which includes portions of Clayton and Fulton counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2017 and currently serves on the Health & Human Services, Interstate Cooperation, Information and Audits and Small Business Development committees.
Representative Sam Park represents the citizens of District 101, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and currently serves on the Higher Education, Industry and Labor, Intragovernmental Coordination and Small Business Development committees.
Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, Science and Technology and Special Rules committees.
Representative Rhonda Burnough represents the citizens of District 77, which includes portions of Clayton County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and currently serves on the Special Committee on Election Integrity and the Economic Development & Tourism, Governmental Affairs, Higher Education and Small Business Development committees.
Representative Viola Davis represents the citizens of District 87, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Natural Resources & Environment, Insurance, Interstate Cooperation and Science and Technology committees.
Representative Mary Robichaux represents the citizens of District 48, which includes portions of Fulton County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves as the House Minority Caucus Treasurer. She also serves on the Economic Development & Tourism, Human Relations & Aging, Small Business Development and Special Rules committees.
Representative Shelly Hutchinson represents the citizens of District 107, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Health & Human Services, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications and Juvenile Justice committees.
Representative Doreen Carter represents the citizens of District 92, which includes portions of Rockdale and DeKalb counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2015 and currently serves on the Code Revision, Education, Industry and Labor, Small Business Development and Special Rules committees.
Representative Donna McLeod represents the citizens of District 105, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Code Revision, Human Relations & Aging, Interstate Cooperation and Science and Technology committees.
Representative Karen Bennett represents the citizens of Districts 94, which includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and currently serves on the Code Revision, Economic Development & Tourism, Health & Human Services and Regulated Industries committees.