A group of local lawmakers is alleging that Wellstar Health System discriminated against its Black patients when the nonprofit hospital system closed two hospitals in 2022. On Wednesday, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution sponsored by Chairman Robb Pitts calling for the county attorney to file a complaint with the Department of […]
Kenya Hunter
Kenya Hunter is Capital B Atlanta's health reporter. Twitter @KenyaTheHunter
Posted inHealth
Your Medicaid Coverage Could Change Next Month. Here’s What to Know.
If you’re on Medicaid in Georgia, there could be major changes to your coverage in the near future. Starting on April 1, the state will start the process of reviewing and reevaluating eligibility for the 2.7 million people on Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids. According to local experts, it’s estimated that more than 500,000 residents […]
Posted inHealth, Reproductive Health
Advocates Launch ‘Abortion Bans Are Racist’ Campaign
A reproductive rights group wants Georgia lawmakers to know that the state’s tough abortion laws disproportionately harmed people of color. Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity — or URGE — a Washington, D.C.-based group that focuses its advocacy on reproductive justice, launched a campaign on Martin Luther King Jr. Day called “Abortion Bans Are Racist.” […]
Posted inHealth, Reproductive Health
Pregnant Women in Georgia Could Qualify for Welfare. Here’s What We Know.
Expecting mothers in low-income households might get some relief if new legislation is passed. Under House Bill 129, filed on behalf of Gov. Brian Kemp, pregnant women who qualify can apply for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, also known as welfare. HB 129 is just one part of Kemp’s initiative to solve the state’s maternal […]
Posted inHealth
From Medicaid Expansion to Abortion, Here’s What Georgia Lawmakers Are Discussing
The General Assembly is back in session, and health care is on the minds of lawmakers. It’s the first session in a post-Roe v. Wade Georgia. The assembly’s return comes as the Biden administration seeks to wind down the federal emergency pandemic response, putting the majority of responsibility into the hands of state governments and […]
Posted inCOVID-19, Health
There’s a New COVID-19 Variant Spreading. Here’s What We Know.
President Joe Biden might have declared, “The pandemic is over,” but a new Omicron subvariant is a reminder that COVID-19 is still with us. The new culprit behind a rise in COVID-19 cases is the XBB.1.5 variant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, XBB.1.5 represents over 27% of COVID-19 cases nationwide. In […]
Posted inEveryday Heroes
Quianah Upton Wants to Create a ‘Healing Space’ with Nourish Botanica
EDITOR’S NOTE In Atlanta, we love a great story, but it ain’t all doom and gloom. With that thought in mind, say hello to Everyday Heroes. This place we call home is filled with ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary feats. Their selfless acts make this region so special — and they bring out the best […]
Posted inHealth
AMC Closed, but You Have Some Options. We Explain.
Residents in Atlanta and the metro area are still reeling from Wellstar Health System’s stunning decision to close Atlanta Medical Center. After the hospital closed its doors on Nov. 1, the city and state lost one of its few trauma units, an active labor and delivery unit, emergency services, and even primary care doctors. Nearby […]
Posted inHealth
Life After AMC’s Closure: Four Stories About Resilience, Challenges, and Hope
People from all walks of life are grieving the loss of Atlanta Medical Center, formerly known as Georgia Baptist. Wellstar Health System closed the nearly 500-bed hospital on Nov. 1, leaving a large void in Old Fourth Ward for people who either worked or were patients at the hospital. Capital B Atlanta spoke with four […]
Posted inHealth, Reproductive Health
Emory Midtown’s Labor and Delivery Service Scrutinized After Viral TikTok
When Latasha Gomiller, a southwest Atlanta resident, contacted Emory University Hospital Midtown for her scheduled induction on Aug. 31, she was stunned by the “rude” response she received from the person who answered the phone. With a dismissive tone, the person curtly stated that all the beds were full in the labor and delivery unit. […]