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Tennessee legislators request support for TennCare waiver extension

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Nine members of Tennessee’s congressional delegation sent a letter this month to Marilyn Tavenner, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, requesting an extension of TennCare’s waiver approval from earlier this year.

Because Tennessee does not receive funding through the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital, or DSH, program that every other state participates in, the lawmakers are requesting continuing funds to support Tennessee hospitals that help tens of thousands of low-income patients receive medical coverage they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. Just last year, these hospitals provided $950 million in charity care and $720 million in unreimbursed medical services to low-income Tennesseans.

Unlike hospitals in every other state, Tennessee hospitals are unable to offset these expenses with the help of the Medicaid DSH program. [Read more…]

ET hospitals, health departments sponsor community forum on Ebola

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Ebola Virus

A colorized transmission electron micrograph (TEM) revealing some of the ultrastructural morphology displayed by an Ebola virus virion.
(Photo credit: Frederick A. Murphy/Public Health Image Library (PHIL))

All the hospital systems and facilities in the Knoxville area have joined with the Knox County Health Department to sponsor an unprecedented community forum to educate the public about Ebola and address any questions and concerns about the disease, a press release said.

The East Tennessee Health Forum on Ebola is open to the public and will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 21, in the auditorium on the lower level of the Knoxville Convention Center. Parking will be available in the Poplar Street parking lot across Cumberland Avenue from the center and free in city garages, including nearby Locust Street Garage.

Medical experts from the Knox County Health Department, Blount Memorial Hospital, Covenant Health, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, TeamHealth, Tennova Health System, and the University of Tennessee Medical Center will discuss the disease, its treatment, and the measures being taken to protect the public. [Read more…]

Local physicians compete in Doc Rock battle of the bands

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Join area physicians and health professionals for a rockin’ good time at “Doc Rock for Health” on Saturday, March 1, in Knoxville’s Old City at “NV” at 125 E. Jackson Ave. (across from Barley’s). Doc Rock features six bands that represent several area hospitals. Each band will play a 45-minute set and compete to win cover charge proceeds, which will benefit their favorite health-based charity.

The local physician band Second Opinion will be playing to support Methodist Medical Center’s Hospitality Houses. These houses primarily provide free lodging to families and patients who travel to Methodist for cancer treatment. The Hospitality Houses have been home to nearly 4,000 guests since opening in 1997.

Second Opinion’s Doc Rock performance will include Methodist Medical Center physicians: gastroenterologist Ken Luckmann, MD; and retired otolaryngologist John Jernigan, MD; plus Parkwest radiologist Daryl Harp, MD; along with friends of Methodist: Melissa Carter, Tim Comer, David Lynch, Larry Sheumaker, and Todd Wright. [Read more…]

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