Now the block grant ball is in the federal government’s court. Tennessee’s Medicaid agency has spent months redesigning TennCare, after the Trump administration asked for so-called block grant requests. The 50-page proposal, which could reshape a program that serves more than 1.4 million Tennesseans, was officially submitted Wednesday afternoon, though with some last-minute changes.
DEA Acknowledges Flaws In Opioid Distribution Database But Won’t Clear Murfreesboro Pharmacy
The Drug Enforcement Agency is refusing to publicly correct alleged flaws in an opioid distribution database published by The Washington Post. A pharmacy owned by state Sen. Shane Reeves has conducted its own recount and says it found major errors that inflated its total by as much as 30 times.
Fears Grow That Drug Dependent Newborns Won’t See Much Aid From Opioid Settlements
The image of shaking babies in hospital nurseries, withdrawing from opioids used by their mother, is referenced in many of the lawsuits against drug companies, aimed at punishing them for contributing to the opioid crisis. But there are growing concerns that those same newborns name-dropped in litigation will be left out of the settlements being […]
Delays Reopening Celina Dash Hopes Of Reviving Other Tennessee Hospitals
The new owner of a shuttered hospital on the Cumberland Plateau is discovering why closure often becomes permanent. Cumberland River Hospital in Celina was purchased in August with a pledge to reopen within weeks.
Provider Bonuses Begin To Pay Off For TennCare
Incentive payments appear to be working for Tennessee’s Medicaid program. TennCare began offering bonuses to doctors and other providers for saving money while giving more appropriate care. In a recently released analytics report, the agency deems the effort a success.
Vanderbilt Launches A Study To See If Vaccines Really Make Getting The Flu Less Deadly
The flu vaccine doesn’t guarantee immunity. But for those who do get sick, it’s supposed to keep the symptoms from being so severe. At least that’s the current medical thinking. Now Vanderbilt is launching a study to see how true that claim is.
Lee Administration Listening Tour Finds Tennesseans Have Trouble Getting To The Doctor
Trouble with transportation to and from a health care visit was the surprise takeaway from a round of health care listening tours over the summer. They…
Nashville Health Survey Suggests A Nicotine Habit May Start With The Casual Vape
Listen Newly released survey data taken from Davidson County residents suggests vaping is primarily popular among young adults. And for many of those who use e-cigarettes, it’s not yet an everyday thing. But health officials worry that will change over time.
No Love For A Block Grant At TennCare’s First Hearing
Listen TennCare is fielding nothing but pushback to its block grant proposal, which it plans to submit to the federal government next month. The state’s Medicaid program is holding public hearings this week, and the kickoff in Nashville resulted in a unified chorus of resistance.
Why Some Tennessee Hospitals Are Opting Out Of Filing Opioid Lawsuits
Hundreds of hospitals around the country, including more than two dozen in Tennessee, have joined litigation against the makers of opioid painkillers. But most hospitals are staying out, even as they claim to suffer losses related to the opioid epidemic.
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