Author: Holly Fletcher

As opioid overdose deaths rise, Tennessee’s grassroots organizations feel siloed and cash-strapped

~ Holly Fletcher ~ 1 Comment
Mental health care, collaboration and prevention efforts along with out-patient treatment options were flagged as priorities by people who traveled from across the state to talk about what’s needed to stem the opioid abuse crisis.

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By the Numbers: Tennessee approves insurers’ 2019 ACA requests

~ Holly Fletcher

The requests garnered approval on Aug. 22 from the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and now head to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for final approval. Two insurers revised original requests for deeper decreases after a commitment from the federal government on risk adjustment payments.

Read more:
»Competition shakes up Tennessee ACA exchange: Highlights urban-rural divide, ups interest in cost impact 
»At a glance: Tennessee’s 2019 ACA premiums, risk adjustment impact

In Charts: Drug, opioid, fentanyl + heroin overdoses in Tennessee

~ Holly Fletcher

The number of Tennesseans who died from drug overdoses hit another record high in 2017, continuing a troubling trend that’s plagued the state for nearly a decade.

Measures to reduce the number of opioid prescriptions, such as hydrocodone and oxycontin, have started to take hold across the state, as illustrated above in an analysis from the Sycamore Institute.

But, the number of people who died from opioid overdoses jumped year over year, in part from a surge in deaths from illicit drugs, according to new data from the Tennessee Department of Health.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vanderbilt study improved low income kids’ nutrition, exercise but results indicate more intensive approach needed to stem obesity

~ Holly Fletcher ~ 1 Comment
A long-running study in low income Nashville neighborhoods found how challenging it is to intervene in young children’s lives to prevent obesity.

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With primaries in the rearview, health care leaders wait for details to emerge from Dean and Lee

~ Holly Fletcher ~ 1 Comment
This is the first in an on-going series that will look at a wide range of issues, including the economy, infrastructure and manufacturing, facing Tennessee’s next governor.

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