In February, 1999 a group of advocates for the poor combined their energies and voices to speak up for the indigent patients of Atlanta’s Grady Hospital. The issue centered around the hospital’s administrative decision to raise the price of prescriptions from .50 each to $10 each. This action would have devastating effects upon nearly every patient who could not afford to get their medicine. Patients with diabetes, heart disease, AIDS and many other life-threatening ailments were threatened with mere death if this coalition had not effectively rallied to raise public attention to the matter.

As a result of the actions of the Grady Coalition, the Hospital’s administration reversed their decision to raise prescription costs. Also, due to this strong advocacy, funds which were needed to offset the budget shortfall of this hospital were supplied through State and Local Government channels. Many organizations, church, and community leaders of diverse races and economic backgrounds were involved. The Grady Coalition continues to meet weekly to strategize advocacy to assure fair treatment of indigent patients.

Organizations involved in the Grady Coalition included The Open Door Community, The Concerned Black Clergy, The Rainbow Coalition, Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority, AIDS Survival Project, NOW, AFL-CIO, United Youth Adult Conference, and several elected officials. The Coalition is led by Minister Ed Loring and Reverend Timothy McDonald.

The cooperative participation of patients and advocates of diverse socio-ethnic background provides additional validity to the issue affordable healthcare and access to treatment for the indigent. In America, as much as 36% of the working population has no health insurance and could very well be eligible for subsidized medical assistance.

An effective feature of the advocacy for fair treatment of Grady Hospital’s indigent patients was the inclusion of the patients themselves. The elderly and the young participated by telling of their illnesses and financial circumstances, therefore making the protest have the quality of validity.