Alexander: "Millions Who Admire President Trump Would Follow His Lead If He Wore a Mask When Appropriate"
Tenn., June 28, 2020 -- U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today told Manu Raju on CNN's "Inside Politics" that "millions of Americans who admire President Trump would follow his lead if he wore a mask when it's appropriate." READ MORE
Alexander: Now is the Time to Prepare for the Next Pandemic
June 25, 2020 -- Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) yesterday afternoon said on the Senate floor that "now, during this pandemic when we have got our eye on the ball," is the time for Congress to act on needed changes to prepare for the next pandemic. READ MORE
LifePoint Health CEO David Dill Discusses COVID-19 Impact in Nashville Health Care Council's HEALTH CARE BRASS TACKS Series
June 25, 2020 - This week the Nashville Healthcare Council featured LifePoint Health President and CEODavid Dill in the latest installment of "Health Care Brass Tacks," a virtual series in which Council board members and C-suite health care leaders discuss their unique perspectives on the coronavirus pandemic and its overall impact on the health care industry. Dill spoke with Council President Hayley Hovious about the experience of LifePoint Health and his outlook for the coming months. READ MORE
AMA announces CPT update for antigen tests in the fight against COVID-19
CHICAGO - The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced an update to Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) that includes a new code for reporting antigen testing of patients suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). READ MORE
Update 6/23
Nashville has officially moved into Phase 3 of the reopening plan with an expectation the city will remain in this phase for four weeks. Both the transmission rate and 14-day new case trend have slipped to yellow. READ MORE
Survey: Cancer Patients Increasingly Face COVID-19 Health Impact
Cancer patients and survivors are finding it increasingly challenging to get necessary health care as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. Many are experiencing financial stress and mental health issues as they try to navigate the difficult health and economic environment. READ MORE
Nashville Health Care Council Hosts Listening Session with Brad Smith, Deputy Administrator of CMS and Director of CMMI
Last week the Nashville Health Care Council hosted a virtual listening session with Brad Smith, deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), for more than 263 Council members. Smith -- formerly the chief operating officer of Anthem's diversified business group; co-founder and CEO of Aspire Health; chief of staff at the Tennessee Department of Economic Development; and the founding executive director of the Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education -- provided insight into the United States' response to the coronavirus pandemic. READ MORE
Alexander: Make the Two Most Important COVID-19 Telehealth Policy Changes Permanent
June 17, 2020 -- Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that at least two of the most important temporary changes in federal policy made to help patients see doctors by phone or video during the COVID-19 pandemic should be extended permanently. READ MORE
Initial COVID-19 Testing Data Show Impact in Nashville's Minority Communities
Early data assessing the primary language of those who received COVID-19 tests at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), and tested positive, illustrates the disproportionate impact the pandemic is having on racial or ethnic communities. READ MORE
Enexor Ventilators Granted FDA Emergency Use Authorization
June 17, 2020 ... Franklin-based Enexor Health systems announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an Emergency Use Authorization for the immediate delivery and use of a new ventilator, the X-VENT. Enexor will start delivering ventilators to hospitals within a few days. READ MORE
Vibrent Health Innovates Rapid Deployment Solution for COVID-19 Survey, Scaled to Over 325,000 Participants in NIH All of Us Research Program
Health technology organization Vibrent Health, which serves as the Participant Technology Systems Center for National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program, responded to the program's urgent need to gather data during the current pandemic by rapidly developing and deploying a COvid-19 Participant Experience (COPE) Survey, sent to more than 325,000 participants in the program. READ MORE
Nashville Mom Writes "Let's Talk About Masks"
Sara Jo Walker, a Nashville native, public relations professional and mother of two young children today announced the launch of her first book, "Let's Talk About Masks." READ MORE
COVID-19 Hospitalization Increases are Primarily in Two Regions of Tennessee, Could Hit 1,000 in Late July
The latest report from faculty researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine shows that the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients reached its highest level to date on June 15, when more than 400 patients were reported hospitalized across Tennessee. READ MORE
TDH Updates Reporting For COVID-19 Cases And Tests
The Tennessee Department of Health is updating the format for sharing of data on COVID-19 to provide a more comprehensive look at the pandemic in Tennessee. READ MORE
6-11 Daily Update
Nashville will remain in phase two of the reopening plan with the 14-day new case trend still in the yellow. Dr. James Hildreth called for protesters to get tested for the coronavirus, and Metro Health will increase focus, in conjunction with area non-profilt organizations including Siloam, to address the COVID-19 hot spot in the southeastern part of Davidson County. READ MORE
Vanderbilt, AstraZeneca Sign New COVID-19 Antibody Agreement
Vanderbilt University and the global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca have signed a new agreement that will enable AstraZeneca to advance two coronavirus-neutralizing antibodies discovered by the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center (VVC) into clinical development as a potential combination therapy for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. READ MORE
Request for $5 Billion to Help Assisted Living Communities in Response to COVID-19
Dear Secretary Azar and Administrator Gaynor: READ MORE
6-8 Daily Update
Last week, Mayor John Cooper slowed Nashville's reopening efforts after the new case trend line fell into the yellow category. The city will remain in the current phase two of the plan until the data improves to the point where Metro officials feel safe in expanding to phase three. READ MORE
First Horizon Foundation Gives $500K to Support Middle Tennessee COVID-19 Relief Efforts
June 3, 2020 - First Horizon Foundation announced today that it is giving a total of $500,000 in support of COVID-19 emergency relief efforts to nonprofit organizations throughout Middle Tennessee. READ MORE
Alexander: Additional Help is on the Way to More than 85,000 Tennessee Small Businesses and Their Employees
June 4, 2020 - U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after the Senate passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act - bipartisan legislation he supported that provides the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) additional flexibility for the more than 85,000 Tennessee small businesses who have received forgivable loans through the program. READ MORE
6-1 Daily Update
What a difference a weekend makes. New numbers are in ... and they aren't great. Between Memorial Day and massive protest rallies, local and state health officials are keeping a watchful eye on community spread over the coming days. READ MORE
The Onsite Foundation Announces New Virtual Support Group for Frontline Healthcare Workers and Medical Staff as part of 'Support in Service' Program
May 29, 2020 - The Onsite Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, today announced a new support group offering under the Foundation's 'Support in Service' program for frontline healthcare workers and medical staff across the country affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE
Multinational Consortium Reports COVID-19 Impact on Cancer Patients
People with cancer sickened by COVID-19 have a crude death rate of 13%, according to the largest series of data released thus far from a multinational perspective. READ MORE
5-28 Daily Update
As of this morning, Nashville reported 5,147 confirmed cases, up 79 since yesterday. Alex Jahangir, MD, MMHC, chair of Metro Nashville Coronavirus Task Force, noted the 14-day rolling average of new cases remains flat. He said of the confirmed cases, 1,152 remain active with 3,937 Nashvillians now recovered from COVID-19. Davidson County has seen two deaths since Tuesday with the number now at 58. READ MORE
5-26 Daily Update
As the music begins to play again in Nashville, the city has segued into Phase II of the reopening plan. This new phase allows for restaurants and retail to ramp up to 75% capacity and live music (but only two performers on stage and no dancing at this point). Hair salons, gyms and tourist attractions will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity. Gatherings of 25 people or less (rather than 10 or less) are also now allowed. READ MORE
5-22 Daily Update
With key metrics in the green, Mayor Cooper announced yesterday the city would move to Phase II of reopening beginning Memorial Day. Notably, restaurants and retail can ramp up to 75% capacity and live music can return (but only two performers on stage and no dancing at this point). READ MORE
5-20 Daily Update
For the first time, all of Nashville's key metrics are in the green, which indicates a satisfactory status for transmission rate, 14-day new case trend and health system and testing capacities. READ MORE
Sumner Regional Eases Visitor Restrictions
May 19, 2020 - Sumner Regional Medical Center announced today that it is transitioning from a zero-visitor protocol to limited visitor restrictions as the hospital gradually resumes elective and non-urgent cases and services at its facilities. READ MORE
New Poll Reveals COVID-19's Impacts on African American Communities
Earlier today the African American Research Collaborative (AARC) in partnership with the NAACP and the Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) at Yale School of Medicine presented new polling detailing the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic on African American communities. READ MORE
SERVPRO Launches New Cleaning Program to Support Safe Reopening of America
May 18, 2020 -- The #1 choice in cleanup and restoration, SERVPRO and its network of more than 1,800 franchises across the U.S. today launched Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, a robust cleaning program designed to help the country safely get back to work, back to school, and back to life's daily activities. READ MORE
AMA, physician groups defend ACA gains in new California v. Texas filing
CHICAGO - Amid a global health crisis and in defense of significant coverage gains and key patient protection provisions within the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the American Medical Association (AMA) and other leading physician organizations today filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of California v. Texas. READ MORE
Study to Determine Rate of Novel Coronavirus Infection in U.S. Children
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) are leading a nationwide study to determine the rate of novel coronavirus infection in U.S. children and their families. READ MORE
First Horizon National Corp. Provides an Update on Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program
May 08, 2020 -- First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN) today announced that First Horizon Bank has helped more than 13,000 small businesses secure loans totaling approximately $2.1 billion through the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). READ MORE
Free eBook for Healthcare Providers Highlights Role of Texting for Resuming Operations
May 12, 2020 -- Healthcare providers seeking ways to more efficiently and effectively resume appointments and drive revenue as COVID-19 restrictions ease are invited to download a free eBook discussing the valuable roles text messaging can play in these efforts. READ MORE
WalletHub Study Finds Tennessee with 8th Most Vulnerable Population to Coronavirus
With nearly 75 percent of patients hospitalized for coronavirus being at least 50 years old, and around 90 percent having pre-existing conditions, it's important for states with larger vulnerable populations to have greater protective measures. READ MORE
Williamson Medical Center, Community Thank Healthcare Heroes During Hospital Week
In acknowledgement of National Hospital Week May 10-16, Williamson Medical Center is sharing a video honoring their own healthcare heroes and showcasing the strength of a community that has come together in support and perseverance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE
FDA Authorizes at-home saliva collection for COVID-19 testing
May 11, 2020--Spectrum Solutions today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the existing EUA200090 awarded to the Rutgers Clinical Genomics Laboratory to now include the at-home collection of saliva samples for COVID-19 testing. READ MORE
5-11 Daily Update
Sen. Lamar Alexander, chair of the U.S. Senate HELP Committee, announced he is self-quarantining in Tennessee after a staffer tested positive for COVID-19. The senator isn't showing symptoms and tested negative for the virus last week. READ MORE
5-7 Daily Update
At today's conference, Mayor John Cooper announced the city will enter Phase 1 of the Roadmap for Reopening Nashville on May 11, which extends the Safer at Home order through the weekend. The city has not maintained two weeks of new case numbers of less than 100. READ MORE
5-6 Daily Update
Metro Nashville
The city's status of key metrics continues to show 'less than satisfactory' for transmission rate and 14-day new case trend, and Davidson County remains under Mayor John Cooper's Safer at Home order through May 8 at this time. READ MORE
AdhereHealth Launches COVID-19 Adherence Solution
May 5, 2020 - AdhereHealth today announced the immediate availability of its new COVID-19 Adherence Solution, an innovative program that combines comprehensive predictive analytics and tech-enabled consumer outreach with home-delivered pharmacy services to support the Coronavirus crisis response. READ MORE
Health Worker Data Alliance: Tracking Emotional, Physical and Occupational Health of Healthcare Workers during COVID-19
May 4, 2020 - A new survey will examine the emotional, physical and occupational experiences of health workers as they contend with the challenges of battling COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. READ MORE
Alexander Statement on COVID-19 Testing for Members of Congress
May 5, 2020 -- United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement: READ MORE
Urgent Team offers two types of Covid-19 testing for individuals and employers
May 5, 2020 - Urgent Team walk-in urgent care centers now offers the antibody test to inform if a person has already had the coronavirus, as well as testing for anyone who has active coronavirus symptoms. The tests are offered at all 25 Urgent Team centers in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. READ MORE
JourneyPure Revolutionizes Addiction Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Before the COVID-19 pandemic began dominating the nation's news cycle, there was another epidemic being battled across the nation - addiction. READ MORE
5-4 Daily Update
Metro Nashville The city's status of key metrics continues to show 'less than satisfactory' for transmission rate and 14-day new case trend, and Davidson County remains under Mayor John Cooper's Safer at Home order through May 8 at this time. READ MORE
5-1 Daily Update
Heading into the weekend, Nashville reported 2,832 confirmed cases, an increase of 163 in the 24 hours since Mayor John Copper extended the county's safer-at-home order until May 8. READ MORE
Ascension Saint Thomas announces plans for resuming certain elective surgeries and non-urgent procedures in accordance with state government plans
May 1, 2020 - Today, Ascension Saint Thomas announced plans to begin a phased, measured and clinically led process to resume surgeries for certain elective, non-urgent and medically necessary procedures at its sites of care across Middle Tennessee in accordance with Governor Lee's recent direction to ease social distancing restrictions. READ MORE
Ozark River CEO forgoes extra profits to help protect essential workers
During a time when many companies are raising prices on healthcare and safety supplies used in the fight against the coronavirus, Ozark River Manufacturing, Co. is doing the exact opposite. Rather than taking advantage of the fears surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Ozark River Manufacturing has slashed by 50 percent the price of its NSF-certified portable handwashing stations even though demand has doubled. READ MORE
Williamson Medical Center Plans to Resume Elective Surgeries on May 4
April 30, 2020 - Williamson Medical Center (WMC) has announced plans to resume performing elective surgeries on May 4. The announcement is in response to Gov. Bill Lee's decision to lift the suspension of elective surgeries previously in place to conserve resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Elective procedures will reopen in accordance to guidelines provided by the Tennessee Hospital Association. READ MORE
4-30 Daily Update
Breaking; Mayor John Cooper extends Nashville's safer-at-home order "at least" another week. Davidson County to remain under current restrictions until May 8. A release from Metro officials stated, "The order has been extended because the key public health metrics are not stable enough to begin reopening the city safely." READ MORE
AI platform predicts COVID's potential spread in rural Tennessee
April 29, 2020 - Decode Health, a Nashville healthcare tech company that is tracking the spread and prevalence of the COVID-19 virus using its proprietary AI platform, predicts that rural counties near major population centers are likely to be where the second wave of the disease emerges. READ MORE
SURVEY: Nurses Report Fear, Shortages Amid COVID
A new survey from NurseGrid, which is part of Nashville-based HealthStream, sheds light on the experiences of nurses on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE
Blunt-Alexander "Shark Tank" COVID-19 Testing Plan
April 28, 2020 - Today, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, applauded an announcement from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that it has begun implementing a new public-private partnership to accelerate the development of COVID-19 testing technologies. READ MORE
New Poll: Nearly a Third are Delaying or Avoiding Medical Care Due to COVID-19 Concerns
With some waiting rooms nearly empty, emergency physicians are seeing a worrisome trend play out across the country. Nearly a third of American adults (29 percent) say that they have delayed or avoided medical care because they are concerned about contracting COVID-19, according to a new poll from Morning Consult and the American College of Emergency Physicians. READ MORE
Congressional Tri-Caucus Introduces Landmark Health Equity and Accountability Legislation
April 28, 2020--Today, Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) and the Congressional Tri-Caucus - which represents over half of the Democratic Caucus and includes the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) - introduced a landmark bill to close health disparities in the United States, entitled the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2020. READ MORE
4-28 Daily Update
April 28, 2020 - Despite rising numbers of cases both the State of Tennessee and Metro Nashville continue to push forward with plans to open. In 89 of the state's 95 counties, restaurants have already been allowed to reopen, with capacity restrictions and guidance on safety measures that should be taken ... but not mandated. Retailers look to reopen tomorrow. Governor Lee also announced elective surgeries can once again be performed beginning May 1. READ MORE
MMC Shares COVID-19 Resources
April 28, 2020 - The wonderful library staff at Meharry Medical College has compiled an outstanding COVID-19 resource to share with the healthcare audience of Nashville Medical News. READ MORE
Front Line Pharmacies Struggling to Pay Unfair Clawback Fees Even While Fighting COVID-19, Says NCPA
April 27, 2020 -- As the coronavirus pandemic continues straining small business independent community pharmacies, 115 members of the U.S. House of Representatives are supporting a bipartisan push to include language permanently prohibiting pharmacy direct and indirect remuneration clawbacks by pharmacy benefit managers in future coronavirus relief packages. READ MORE
Change Healthcare Launches COVID-19 Information Hub to Help Providers and Payers Navigate Administrative, Data, and Financial Challenges
Change Healthcare has launched the COVID-19 Updates and Resources hub, an online source of technology, business, and informational resources to give providers and payers guidance on how to maintain administrative, financial, and operational stability during the COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE
Aegis Sciences Corporation Doubles Capacity for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Testing
April 27, 2020 - Aegis Sciences Corporation, a leading healthcare company that provides clinically innovative medication compliance testing and consulting services to providers, announced expanded capacity to incrementally ramp up to 7,000 tests per day since first making COVID-19 testing available on April 15th. READ MORE
4-24 Daily Update
On Tuesday, Nashville reported 1,936 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The number on Friday morning was 2,176, an increase of 240 over the last few days with 32 of those cases confirmed in the past 24 hours. READ MORE
THA Analysis Shows $1 Billion Monthly Loss to Tennessee Hospitals
April 24, 2020 - Tennessee hospitals are experiencing a negative financial impact of approximately $1 billion per month due to the pandemic, according to an analysis conducted by the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA). READ MORE
Mayor Cooper Outlines Roadmap for Reopening
Mayor John Cooper has released a detailed roadmap for how Nashville will reopen the economy based on data. Below is the link to the mayor's full plan and a summary sent out by Metro Councilman Dave Rosenberg (District 35, Bellevue). READ MORE
Trauma Volumes Down at VUMC Due to Stay at Home Orders
April 23, 2020 - One possible positive impact of the coronavirus pandemic is that fewer people on the roadways translates to fewer motor vehicle accidents and fewer traumatic injuries. READ MORE
Red Cross blood drive with TC Restaurant Group collects 47 pints
April 22, 2020 -- The American Red Cross is proud to announce that 47 pints of lifesaving blood were collected Tuesday, during the TC Restaurant Group blood drive outside Jason Aldean's Kitchen and Rooftop Bar and Luke's 32 Bridge on lower Broadway in Nashville. All presenting donors received lunch prepared by TC Restaurant Group chefs, a $50 gift card and a swag bag courtesy of TC Restaurant Group, while supplies lasted. READ MORE
Safeguarding Opioids a Concern for Parents
April 22, 2020 - A new poll from the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy found that few Tennessee parents take steps to safeguard opioids at home, an important concern when children are spending more time indoors due to COVID-19 social distancing recommendations. READ MORE
Perception Health issues projections of coronavirus cases, deaths for all 50 states
April 22, 2020 - Perception Health, a leading provider of predictive analytics for the healthcare industry, released today a new service that offers projected numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths in each state. READ MORE
Medsphere Creates 'Cheat Sheet' on Cares Act
Medsphere Systems Corporation has posted information on federal assistance available to various healthcare sectors and created a handy 'cheat sheet' to help the healthcare industry tap into stimulus funding during the pandemic. READ MORE
American Addiction Centers Leads the Addiction Treatment Industry as it Launches Onsite COVID-19 Testing at all of its Treatment Centers
Alexander: Senate "Pulls Out All the Stops" to Help Increase COVID-19 Testing
April 21, 2020 -- U.S. Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that the Senate has "pulled out all the stops" to help increase COVID-19 diagnostic testing in order to contain the disease and give Americans the confidence to go back to work and back to school. READ MORE
Alexander: "More Help is on the Way" for Tennesseans in Fight Against COVID-19
April 21, 2020 - United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said "more help is on the way" for Tennesseans in the fight against COVID-19, after the Senate passed legislation to provide an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program to continue to make loans, $75 billion for hospitals, and $25 billion to strengthen testing. READ MORE