A state senator is threatening to wrestle control of Grady Hospital from its current authority and give it to a nonprofit corporation, unless the hospital solves its financial crisis on its own.
Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth) says he'll introduce a bill in the next session of the General Assembly to address Grady's financial woes. If the bill becomes law, it will require the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority to cede day-to-day management of Grady to a nonprofit corporation. A task force also has recommended the change, and Shafer says he's trying to put the Authority's feet to the fire.
"They certainly ought to do it themselves and it's my hope that they would do it themselves," Shafer says. "But we've got to be ready to take action if they continue to drag their feet."
The bill does not provide what all concerned say Grady needs the most: money. Hospital officials say they may have to shut their doors unless they get $120 million this year. Fulton and DeKalb Counties fund the hospital's operations, even though patients come from all over the metropolitan area. Senior state officials say they will consider state funding, but only if Grady restructures its management.
Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth) says he'll introduce a bill in the next session of the General Assembly to address Grady's financial woes. If the bill becomes law, it will require the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority to cede day-to-day management of Grady to a nonprofit corporation. A task force also has recommended the change, and Shafer says he's trying to put the Authority's feet to the fire.
"They certainly ought to do it themselves and it's my hope that they would do it themselves," Shafer says. "But we've got to be ready to take action if they continue to drag their feet."
The bill does not provide what all concerned say Grady needs the most: money. Hospital officials say they may have to shut their doors unless they get $120 million this year. Fulton and DeKalb Counties fund the hospital's operations, even though patients come from all over the metropolitan area. Senior state officials say they will consider state funding, but only if Grady restructures its management.
