Wellstar's hospital closures in Black areas prompted NAACP and lawmakers to file Federal complaints.

Last year, Wellstar Health System made the decision to close Atlanta Medical Center and Atlanta Medical Center-South, both located in predominantly Black areas. The NAACP, in collaboration with state legislators and other politicians, has filed two federal complaints against this decision. The complaints claim that the closures have infringed on the healthcare rights of Black patients and have left those residing south of Interstate 20 without easy access to emergency medical services.

One of the complaints has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and calls for an investigation into Wellstar’s tax-exempt status. The other complaint alleges that the closures violate the 1964 Civil Rights Act and is being filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights.