News

Tennessee’s overall uninsured rate is now at 6.7 percent, an increase from 6.1 percent in 2017 but still well below levels before the Affordable Care Act went into effect in 2014, according to a new report released by the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research in the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business. 
The increase in Tennesseans without health insurance is consistent with nationwide trends.
 
The Impact of TennCare: A Survey of Recipients, 2018, authored by LeAnn Luna, an economics professor in the Boyd Center, and Emily Pratt, a Boyd Center research associate, summarizes findings from a telephone survey of approximately 5,000 households conducted between May and July.
 
The report examines the health coverage status of Tennessee residents, collects information about the use of medical facilities, and gauges satisfaction with services received.
 
The survey also measures the success of the TennCare program, including the overall satisfaction of TennCare members. In 2018, some 95 percent of respondents reported satisfaction with TennCare and services rendered from TennCare providers. This marks the 10th year in a row that satisfaction levels exceeded 90 percent.  
 
“I am pleased that TennCare continues to be recognized for providing access to high quality care for our members,” said TennCare director Wendy Long. “We collaborate with our health plans to promote the delivery of the right care in the right place at the right time, and those efforts are paying off.”  
 
Other highlights from this year’s survey:
·        More respondents noted the inability to afford insurance as the major reason for not being insured, reversing a downward trend since 2014. An increasing number of households of all income levels reported “cannot afford” as a major reason.
·        Approximately 75 percent of TennCare members obtained a doctor’s appointment within a week, and 47 percent obtained an appointment within one day, marking record highs for both measures. Only 11 percent reported waiting more than three weeks for an appointment, a record low.
·        Ninety-two percent of all TennCare heads of household reported seeking care first at a doctor’s office or clinic instead of going to the emergency room, while 95 percent of heads of household statewide reported the same behavior.
 
The Boyd Center has conducted the survey since 1993 under contract with the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration.
To read the full report visit http://cber.haslam.utk.edu/tncare.htm
 

A joint investigation has led to an arrest in connection to a fire that occurred at a Manchester hotel.  
On Thursday, TBI Special Agents joined Tennessee Fire Investigative Services and the Manchester Fire Department in investigating a fire that occurred at Econo Lodge Inn and Suites located along Hillsboro Avenue. During the course of the investigation, authorities determined the fire had been intentionally set and that Edward McKinley Childers (DOB 9/21/83) was the individual responsible.
 
Childers was arrested and charged with one count of Aggravated Arson and one count of Vandalism. He was subsequently booked into the Coffee County Jail on a $51,000 bond.
 

 Domestic violence, also referred to as intimate partner violence or IPV, is a serious, preventable public health problem that affects tens of thousands of Tennesseans and millions of people across the United States. Throughout Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, the Tennessee Department of Health is working with community partners to share information on training and resources available to help end IPV.
 
“We join in mourning those whose lives have been taken by acts of domestic violence, celebrate survivors and acknowledge the tremendous progress victim advocates have made as we stand together with all those working to end IPV,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH.
 
In Tennessee, 77,355 people were identified as victims of IPV in 2017 according to data collected by the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show one in three women and one in four men will become victims of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetimes. 
 
Research finds many factors are associated with higher risk of IPV:
•             Being a woman:  55,804 IPV victims in Tennessee were female and 21,983 were male in 2017
•             Demographic risk factors such as age, low educational attainment, low income or unemployment
•             Childhood risk factors such as exposure to violence between parents, experiencing child abuse or neglect and experiencing sexual violence
•             Individual risk factors such as stress, anxiety and antisocial personality traits
 
IPV increases the risk of poor cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, reproductive and nervous system health outcomes for victims. IPV survivors also experience mental health effects such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
 
IPV is preventable. The TDH Rape Prevention Education Program offers training and support for community agencies, schools and sports teams to implement evidence-based prevention programs. These include Coaching Boys into Men, Safe Dates, Athletes as Leaders, Safe Bar and Bystander Intervention Strategies. Learn more at www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/fhw/vipp/rape-prevention-education.html.
 
“There are numerous programs and services available to help equip individuals, communities and organizations with skills to build and support healthy relationships and to recognize and prevent intimate partner violence,” said TDH Rape Prevention Education Program Director Kristyn Long. “All Tennesseans can participate in ending IPV in our state.”
 
To get involved in prevention efforts and help end domestic violence, please visit www.tncoalition.org. For additional resources, visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center at www.nsvrc.org/.
 
In Tennessee, the Sexual Assault Center provides healing through counseling, prevention education and advocacy for children, adults and families affected by sexual violence. SAC offers a variety of prevention trainings and educational programs throughout the year including courses for Kindergarten through high school students and college campuses. For more information visit www.sacenter.org/ or call the 24-hour crisis hotline and support line at 1-800-879-1999.
 
If you need help, call The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or go to www.TheHotline.org.
                                                                                         
 
 

You can expect deer activity to increase between October and December in Tennessee becauseit’s mating season. Thousands of deer versus car crashes are investigated in Tennessee every
year. But this time of year, they’re more likely to happen.
If you spot a dead deer on the side of the road, you can call the Tennessee Department of
Transportation to clean it up.
From July 1, 2017 to October 22nd, 2018 TDOT spent $6,149,498 on “special litter” cleanup.
If you spot a dead deer on the side of the road you can call Tennessee Department of
Transportation or email them at TDOT.comments@tn.gov
Usually, workers pick up carcasses between 9a.m. and 3p.m. If it’s a public safety matter, or
injuries are involved, call police.

Several items will be facing commissioners this Thursday when the Cannon County Commissionconducts their November meeting. Items on the agenda include;
 A discussion on tire disposal
 Consideration and possible approval of the Public Records Committee
 Review and possible adoption of an updated Occupational Safety and Health Plan
and several other items.
The meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 5pm in the courtroom of the county courthouse.

Automobile accidents can leave victims upset, disoriented, and unsettled. While consumers’ priorities after an accident should include recovering from any injuries and contacting the appropriate insurance providers, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs and the Tennessee Attorney General advises consumers to be aware of individuals who may prey upon victims in order to lure them into the “accident clinic” trap.   
Accident clinics target automobile accident victims in order to make money by creating the false impression that the clinics either work for a government agency or are part of an insurance company. The clinics aim to quickly sign up accident victims as patients before they can talk to their own doctor or lawyer. Some clinics use telemarketers to set appointments with accident victims and often call accident victims shortly after an accident.  Other clinics may also contact accident victims either by mail or text messages.
 
Earlier this year, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a new law prohibiting some healthcare providers (though not chiropractors) and their associates, from soliciting victims of an accident or disaster for the purpose of marketing their services within 30 days from the accident.*  (The law is enforced by the Tennessee Department of Health.  If you feel are a potential victim of a violation of this law, you can submit a complaint to the Dept. of Health.
 
If you have concerns regarding communications from an insurance company or have questions about claims practices, contact the TDCI Consumer Insurance Services Division at (615) 741-2218 or visit tn.gov/insurance.
 
For more consumer tips, resources, or to file a complaint related to a business, visit the Division of Consumer Affairs at tn.gov/consumer.
 

Murfreesboro police say a Tennessee State Veterans’ Home employee has been suspended after allegedly admitting to the Home’s facility administrator that she abused a patient.The report says on Oct. 19, an employee told the facility administrator she purposefully manipulated a patient’s bed to cause him pain. The patient was a “vulnerable adult who cannot take care of himself due to his medical conditions,” according to the report.
According to online records from the Department of Health, the employee accused of the abuse is a certified nurse aide. It does not appear that her license has been suspended or revoked. 
The Tennessee State Veterans’ Home facility administrator did not immediately respond to request for comment on the nurse aide’s suspension. 
 

Gas prices in Tennessee have declined for the past 10 consecutive days-for a total discount of 4 cents during that time. Sunday’s state average of $2.65 is 3 cents less than a week ago. However, Tennessee gas prices remain 7 cents more than a month ago, and 37 cents more than this time last year.AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said motorists are getting a welcome reprieve from high prices at the pump. Prices have been pushed lower by oil prices, which declined during the past two weeks. He said we can expect additional declines at the pump if oil prices drop again this week.
The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.85

Tennessee corn farmers and landowners will be able to vote on a statewide checkoff referendum to consider a 1 cent per bushel assessment of corn sold. Voting for this assessment program will take place Nov. 28 and 29, 2018 at county UT Extension offices, which are usually open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If the referendum passes, the funds will be used to finance a program of research, education, market development, marketing, advertising, and other methods designed to promote the increased production, consumption, use, and sale of Tennessee corn products. 
The referendum is authorized by Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton at the request of the Tennessee Corn Growers Association, the state’s largest corn organization.
Tennessee corn producers or landowners who share in the production costs or the proceeds of the sale of corn are eligible to vote. 
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture will announce the referendum results Dec. 7. If passed, assessments will begin March 1, 2019. Producers who do not want to participate may request a refund of the assessed amount within 90 days of the sale. 
 

Sheriff’s deputies will join law enforcement officers throughout Tennessee to reduce traffic deaths and injuries during increased enforcement Tuesday and Friday on U.S. Highway 70 South across the state.The Tennessee Highway Safety Office is sponsoring the second “Safe on Seventy” campaign to increase traffic enforcement across U.S. Highway 70 statewide.
 
“The THSO is pleased to launch ‘Safe on Seventy’ again this year,” said THSO Director Vic Donoho. “This is a new, strategic initiative designed to target one of Tennessee’s most problematic highways. We look forward to working with the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, Tennessee Department of Transportation and local law enforcement to decrease injury crashes and fatalities.”
 
U.S. Highway 70 stretches from West to East Tennessee spanning more than 500 miles statewide.
 
According to the Tennessee Integrated Traffic Analysis Network Division, Tuesdays and Fridays between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. have been identified as high-crash periods on U.S. Highway 70.
 
Agencies participating in “Safe on Seventy” will collaborate during this time frame on Tuesday and Friday to combat distracted driving, aggressive driving, speeding and other high-risk driving behaviors. Participating agencies will also increase seat belt enforcement and commercial vehicle safety.
 
The THSO encourages the following safe driving behaviors.

Buckle up and ensure all child passengers are properly restrained.

Never drink and drive.

Rest well prior to driving long distances.

Avoid texting, social media use, video-chatting, and other forms of distracted driving.