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Athens News Matters: The future of safety net hospitals in Georgia

Atlanta Medical Center has been a community fixture in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood for decades. Wellstar Health System, the nonprofit that owns the facility, plans to shutter it in November. It's the latest change in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood and another severe blow to the Atlanta-area health care landscape. (Sam Whitehead/KHN)
Sam Whitehead/KHN
/
GPB
Atlanta Medical Center has been a community fixture in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood for decades. Wellstar Health System, the nonprofit that owns the facility, plans to shutter it in November. It's the latest change in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood and another severe blow to the Atlanta-area health care landscape. (Sam Whitehead/KHN)

Over one million Georgians are without health insurance. Slightly more are enrolled in public health insurance, ultimately relying on federal and state funding for their healthcare.

Both groups rely on a network of non-profit hospitals with the responsibility of serving the most vulnerable people. So what happens when one of those hospitals closes?

GPB’s Sofi Gratas gives us a better look at why the future of Georgia’s safety net hospitals may be at risk.