Mercy Care in Atlanta: How It Works, Who It Serves, and How to Get Help

If you search for “Mercy Care Atlanta”, you’re usually looking for information about affordable, community-focused health care in the city—especially for people who are uninsured, underinsured, or experiencing homelessness. In Atlanta, Mercy Care is a well-known nonprofit health provider with several locations that focus on making primary and specialty care easier to access.

This guide walks through what Mercy Care does in Atlanta, who it serves, typical services, how to get an appointment, and what to expect if you’re new to the system.

What Is Mercy Care in Atlanta?

Mercy Care is a community health provider in Atlanta that focuses on people who often have trouble getting regular medical care, including:

• People without health insurance
• People with low incomes
• People experiencing homelessness or housing instability
• People with Medicaid, Medicare, or certain private plans

It operates health centers in and around downtown Atlanta and partners with other local agencies, shelters, and outreach programs to bring care to where people are.

The organization’s approach is often described as “whole-person care”—mixing medical, behavioral, and support services instead of treating health issues in isolation.

Where Mercy Care Is Located in Atlanta

Mercy Care has multiple clinics in the city. Locations and exact service offerings can change over time, but these are commonly referenced Atlanta-area sites:

To get the most current address, hours, and services, it’s best to call Mercy Care directly or check recent printed materials from local shelters, public libraries, or city resource centers.

📞 General Mercy Care phone (Atlanta-wide): Look for the main central number listed on Mercy Care materials or on information boards at shelters, DFCS offices, or Fulton/DeKalb health departments. Staff there can route you to the right clinic and confirm eligibility.

Who Mercy Care Serves in Atlanta

While anyone may inquire about services, Mercy Care is especially focused on Atlanta residents who have limited access to traditional health care. That frequently includes:

• Uninsured adults and families
• People with very low income or unstable income
• People experiencing homelessness, staying in shelters, or living in encampments
• New arrivals to Atlanta who haven’t yet connected to a regular doctor
• People with Medicaid or Medicare
• People managing mental health or substance use challenges
• Individuals with serious ongoing conditions (like diabetes or high blood pressure) who need regular follow-up but have trouble affording or coordinating it

Many Atlantans first learn about Mercy Care through homeless shelters, street outreach teams, churches, and social workers.

Types of Services Mercy Care Typically Offers in Atlanta

Exact services vary by site, but Mercy Care in Atlanta generally focuses on:

Primary and Preventive Care

At many Mercy Care clinics you’ll find family medicine and internal medicine services, such as:

• Routine checkups and primary care visits
• Care for common illnesses (coughs, infections, minor injuries)
• Ongoing care for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes
• Women’s health services (annual exams, contraception counseling, pregnancy testing)
• Some vaccinations and screenings (such as blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol checks)

These services are meant to give people a regular medical home, not just emergency-level care when something is already very serious.

Behavioral Health and Substance Use Support

Many Mercy Care locations in Atlanta integrate behavioral health into routine medical care. Depending on the site, this can include:

• Mental health assessments and counseling
• Support for depression, anxiety, and trauma-related concerns
• Substance use assessments and referrals
• Medication management when appropriate, through licensed clinicians

Some Atlanta residents are connected to Mercy Care’s behavioral health services through local shelters, crisis lines, or hospital social workers who help coordinate follow-up care.

Dental Care

Some Mercy Care centers in the Atlanta region also include dental clinics, focusing on:

• Exams and cleanings
• Fillings and extractions
• Treatment of dental infections

These dental services can be especially important for people without insurance, since dental emergencies often send people to emergency rooms when regular care isn’t accessible.

Services for People Experiencing Homelessness

Mercy Care is widely known in Atlanta for its work with people who are unsheltered or staying in emergency shelters. Services often include:

• Medical care at fixed clinics and mobile outreach sites
• Help replacing lost prescriptions or glasses when possible
• Referrals to shelters, food resources, and housing programs
• Help connecting to Medicaid, Social Security Disability benefits, or other public programs

Many shelters and day centers around Atlanta—especially near downtown—maintain printed resource lists that include Mercy Care as a primary medical contact.

Costs, Payment, and Sliding Scale

Mercy Care in Atlanta usually operates as a safety-net provider, which means:

• It may accept Medicaid and Medicare.
• Some private insurance plans may be accepted, depending on the site.
• Uninsured patients can often be seen on a sliding fee scale based on income.
• No one is typically turned away solely for inability to pay at the time of the visit, although bills may still be generated and assistance may be offered to manage them.

You’ll usually be asked for:

• Any insurance card you have
• A photo ID, if available
• Proof of income or lack of income (like a letter from a shelter, a benefits letter, or pay stubs), when you’re applying for sliding-scale fees

If you don’t have documents, staff can usually explain what alternatives are accepted and how to move forward.

How to Get an Appointment with Mercy Care in Atlanta

1. Call for Scheduling

Most people start by calling Mercy Care’s central scheduling number for Atlanta. Staff can:

• Identify the closest appropriate clinic
• Explain what services are available there
• Help you schedule a new-patient appointment
• Discuss same-day or walk-in options, if offered at that site

If phone access is difficult, you can often ask shelter staff, outreach workers, or social workers to help make the call on your behalf.

2. Walk-In Options

Some Mercy Care locations and outreach clinics in Atlanta allow walk-ins or same-day visits, especially for urgent but non-emergency issues. Access can depend on:

• How many providers are working that day
• How many scheduled appointments are already booked
• Whether clinics are focusing on a specific group (such as a shelter population) that day

If you’re unsure, it’s usually worth calling ahead or asking a local shelter or day center how walk-ins are currently handled.

3. Referrals from Other Agencies

Many people are linked to Mercy Care through:

• Atlanta homeless shelters (for example, facilities near downtown or on the Westside)
• Fulton County and DeKalb County social service agencies
• Hospital discharge planners at large Atlanta hospitals
• Community organizations such as neighborhood nonprofits and churches

In those cases, a worker may help arrange your first visit and explain what to expect.

What to Bring to Your First Mercy Care Visit

If you’re planning to see Mercy Care in Atlanta, bringing any of the following can make intake smoother:

• Photo ID, if you have one
• Insurance card (Medicaid, Medicare, or private plan), if applicable
• Proof of income (pay stub, benefits letter, or a written statement from a shelter or case manager)
• A list of your current medications or the pill bottles themselves
• Any discharge papers from a recent hospital visit
• Names and contact information for any other doctors or counselors you’re seeing

If you don’t have documents due to homelessness, loss, or recent relocation, staff can usually work with you and explain what options exist.

Mercy Care vs. Emergency Rooms in Atlanta

In Atlanta, it’s common for uninsured or unstably housed people to end up at Grady Memorial Hospital or other emergency departments for urgent needs. Mercy Care plays a different role:

• Mercy Care focuses on ongoing, primary, and preventive care, plus management of chronic conditions and behavioral health.
• Emergency rooms focus on life-threatening or severe emergencies, such as chest pain, major injuries, or serious breathing problems.

For sudden, severe symptoms or life-threatening emergencies, calling 911 or going directly to an emergency room in Atlanta is still the appropriate step.

For routine care, follow-up visits, chronic condition management, or non-emergency concerns, Mercy Care can often be a more appropriate and accessible option.

Transportation and Getting to Mercy Care in Atlanta

Atlanta residents usually reach Mercy Care clinics by:

• MARTA rail and bus: Many Mercy Care sites are located near MARTA routes serving downtown and key corridors.
• Walking: For people staying in downtown shelters, certain Mercy Care clinics may be within walking distance.
• Rides from shelters or outreach agencies: Some programs offer limited transportation for medical visits.
• Car services or ride-shares: When affordable or subsidized through other programs.

If transportation is a concern:

• Mention it when you call Mercy Care; staff may be able to point you to MARTA-accessible locations or partner programs that help with rides.
• Ask your case manager, shelter, or outreach worker if they know of transportation options linked to health appointments.

How Mercy Care Connects with Other Atlanta Resources

Mercy Care is part of a wider network of safety-net services in Atlanta. When you’re seen there, staff may help you connect to:

• Fulton County Board of Health or DeKalb County Board of Health clinics for additional services like family planning or immunizations
• Georgia Department of Human Services offices (including DFCS) for Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF applications
• Housing and shelter programs for people experiencing homelessness
• Behavioral health and recovery programs for substance use treatment and support
• Food pantries, clothing closets, and supportive services run by local nonprofits and faith-based organizations

This coordination can be especially helpful if you’ve recently come to Atlanta or are trying to stabilize after a hospital stay, jail release, or loss of housing.

If You’re New to Atlanta and Need Care Fast

If you’ve just arrived in Atlanta and are looking for health care support:

1. Call Mercy Care to ask about the nearest clinic that can see new patients and what documents you should bring.
2. If you’re staying in a shelter, ask staff there for the most recent list of community clinics and whether they can help you get to Mercy Care.
3. If you’re in immediate medical distress, go directly to an emergency room or call 911.
4. Once the emergency is addressed, ask to speak to a hospital social worker about connecting to Mercy Care or other community clinics for follow-up.

Key Takeaways for “Mercy Care Atlanta”

• Mercy Care is a major community health provider in Atlanta, focused on people who are uninsured, underinsured, or experiencing homelessness.
• Clinics provide primary care, behavioral health, and in some locations, dental care, along with support services and referrals.
• Costs are often adjusted through a sliding fee scale, and staff generally work with people who have limited income or no insurance.
• You can access services by calling for an appointment, walking in at certain sites, or getting referred by shelters, hospitals, or social service agencies.
• Mercy Care works closely with other Atlanta safety-net programs, helping patients connect to housing, benefits, and additional support.

For Atlanta residents and visitors who are struggling to access the traditional health system, Mercy Care is one of the city’s central options for affordable, community-based medical and behavioral care.