A more infectious strain of the COVID-19 virus, known as the Delta variant, is on the move in Tennessee. The state’s health department has counted about 20 cases so far, concentrated in Shelby County.
HCA Accused Of ‘Money Grab’ In Rapid Expansion Of Trauma Centers
Being designated a “trauma center” allows a cascade of lucrative reimbursement. HCA has pushed to have more of its hospitals named trauma centers — and it’s not slowing down.
Angered By Youth Vaccine Promotion, Tennessee Republicans Threaten To Defund Health Department
Republican lawmakers are threatening Tennessee health officials with defunding their department if they don’t curtail what they see as marketing the COVID vaccine to children. The saber-rattling arises from a state memo explaining how teenagers could legally be vaccinated without parental consent.
Southern Car Plants Are Humming, But Worker Vaccinations Have Stalled
Heightened demand for cars has their assembly lines running full tilt, but automakers are unsure how hard to push reluctant workers to get vaccinated.
Teaching Tennessee Hair Stylists And Barbers To Spot The Signs Of Domestic Violence
Hair stylists and barbers are notorious confidantes. So much so that a new Tennessee law, passed during the pandemic, will soon require them to recognize signs of domestic violence.
Nashville To Spend Latest COVID Money On Community Outreach
Nashville is using its latest $5 million allocation of COVID relief money to fund health outreach teams. They’re not doctors or nurses, but rather liaisons and educators known as community health workers.
Feds Accuse Tennessee’s Largest Hospice Agency Of Enrolling Patients Who Aren’t Dying
Whistleblowers who worked for Avalon Hospice accuse the agency of knowingly enrolling patients who weren’t going to die within six months, as hospice rules suggest, and concealing evidence that would force them to repay Medicare. Their accusations have now led the U.S. Attorney and the Tennessee Attorney General to get involved.
Nashville Hat Store Apologizes For ‘Insensitivity,’ Halts Sale Of Anti-Vaccine Star Of David Badge
The owner of HatWRKS in Nashville is apologizing for trying to sell yellow badges shaped like the Star of David to protest political pressure to get the COVID vaccine. But her backpedaling only came after hat makers, including the Stetson brand, announced they would no longer work with the Nashville store.
Tennessee Doesn’t Plan To Join Financial Incentive Frenzy To Boost COVID Vaccinations
Tennessee has no plans to join the states offering financial incentives to stoke interest in COVID vaccinations, even though they’re showing some promise elsewhere.
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