Lawmakers seek federal investigations into Wellstar Atlanta hospital closures

A photograph of the now defunct Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center in Atlanta. The Wellstar system announced on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, that it would take over the Augusta University Health System after closing the money losing Atlanta hospital in November, prompting intense criticism. (John Spink/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

This story was updated March 9 at 10:27 a.m.

A coalition of state lawmakers and other metro-area officials is asking the federal government to investigate Wellstar Health System’s recent closures of Atlanta Medical Center in the Old Fourth Ward and its East Point Atlanta Medical Center South hospital.

Wellstar shut down the two hospitals last year, citing financial operating losses of more than $100 million in 2022.