AGP Executive Report

Nursing Home Watch (CMS ratings): CMS ownership and quality data highlighted several Tennessee facilities under NHC-Op LP, including NHC Healthcare, Chattanooga (3-star, no fines in Q1 2026) and NHC-Maury Regional Transitional Care Center in Columbia (5-star, no fines), while Majestic Gardens at Memphis Rehab & SNC in Memphis drew a 1-star rating and $810,404 in fines across nine incidents in Q1 2026. Public Health & Safety: A Memphis man seeking crime victim compensation says a robbery left him unable to walk and facing major medical bills after injuries from an alleged attack and crash. Mental Health Data Gap: UNM researchers report that self-harm history is often missing from diagnosis codes in Veterans Health Administration records, meaning systems may underestimate mental health needs. Opioid Treatment R&D: GATC Health’s Morgantown lab says it developed GATC-1021 for opioid use disorder, with findings published and human trials expected. Community Health Events: Memphis kicked off its 33rd Juneteenth Festival in the Medical District Park, with family activities and a Saturday headliner. Local Care Leadership: St. Joseph Regional Medical Center named Joel Underwood as Associate Administrator – Operations. Animal & Environment Concerns: Nashville Zoo is fighting a proposed data center next door, warning of light and noise risks to rare animals.

Infectious Disease Watch: Doctors at Methodist Le Bonheur and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital say norovirus can keep spreading in summer travel season, especially in crowded settings like airports, hotels, cruise ships, daycares, and nursing homes; symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, and experts note one infected person can spread it to many others. Animal Health & Biosecurity: After USDA confirmed a New World screwworm case in Texas, Tennessee’s Department of Agriculture issued temporary animal import restrictions and ramped up surveillance and outreach to protect livestock, pets, and wildlife. Local Health & Wellness Services: Nashville’s Pro2col is promoting a personalized recovery approach that pairs hyperbaric oxygen therapy with IV therapy and EBO2, emphasizing recovery plans over single-modality treatment. Healthcare Business: Clear Dental Billing launched an outsourced billing service for dental practices and DSOs, offering insurance verification, claims submission, denial management, and AR cleanup. Community Health Infrastructure: Nashville Zoo is urging residents to oppose a proposed data center next door, citing concerns about animal habitats plus water and electricity demands. Public Health Policy: A SafeHome.org report ranks Tennessee among the least safe states for LGBTQ residents, citing gaps in protections and health/safety laws.

Nursing Home Watch (CMS ratings): New CMS data for Q1 2026 spotlights big swings across Tennessee for-profit nursing homes—NHC Healthcare, Columbia (4 stars, no fines/penalties) and NHC Place at Cool Springs (5 stars, no fines/penalties) contrast with Quality Center for Rehabilitation and Healing in Lebanon (1 star, $13,305 fine and two penalties) and Life Care Center of Red Bank in Chattanooga (1 star, $8,512 fine and one penalty). Public Safety (DOJ + Memphis model): The U.S. Department of Justice announced a nationwide public safety initiative modeled in part on Memphis’ Safe Task Force, aiming to fund and modernize crime-reduction efforts in large cities. Pharmacy Policy (CVS sues): CVS filed a federal lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s Fair Rx Act, which bans pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies. Community Health (summer safety): Wellpoint Tennessee and the J.A. Henry YMCA host a free Summer Safety and Health Fair June 6 in Nashville focused on heat safety, hydration, and water safety. Health & Wellness (water safety access): Memphis’ Bickford Aquatic Center reopened after a $2 million renovation, bringing swimming lessons and drowning-prevention resources back to North Memphis. Data Center Pushback (Nashville Zoo): A petition to block a proposed data center next to the Nashville Zoo topped nearly 37,000 signatures, with residents citing wildlife and public health concerns.

Healthcare Fraud Crackdown: The U.S. Department of Justice says it secured convictions of six people in federal healthcare fraud cases totaling about $1.1 billion, with trials held in places including Nashville. Local Health & Safety: A Nashville-area restaurant inspection found moldy salsa, unsafe food temperatures, and improper glove handling, leading to a closure for an “imminent health hazard.” Early Autism Screening: A new urine-based screening approach could help identify some children at risk for autism earlier, using gut-microbe metabolite patterns. Public Health Education: UT’s entomology team is hosting “Tick Ready Tennessee” workshops in Knoxville, Spring Hill, and Jackson as tick numbers rise. Community Health Event: Wellpoint Tennessee and the J.A. Henry YMCA are hosting a free Summer Safety & Health Fair in Chattanooga. Care Access & Growth: Ascension finalized its purchase of AMSURG, continuing the push toward outpatient surgery centers. Outpatient Imaging Expansion: Kain Capital is partnering with RadX to expand its multistate outpatient imaging footprint, including Tennessee. Environment & Animal Health: Nashville Zoo launched a petition opposing a proposed data center next door, citing concerns about electricity, water use, and lack of public environmental studies.

Rural Health Funding: State Sen. Ken Yager met with rural Tennessee mayors to help communities prepare for the Tennessee Rural Health Transformation Program, a roughly $1 billion, five-year push aimed at boosting healthcare access and infrastructure in underserved areas. Nursing Home Watch: CMS data highlighted staffing and quality snapshots across multiple Tennessee counties, including Mckendree Post Acute & Rehabilitation (Davidson) as the No. 2 facility with a 1-star overall rating, plus several other “second-largest” nursing homes ranging from 1 to 5 stars—showing big variation in care quality and enforcement outcomes. Opioid Alert: Knox County officials say a new synthetic opioid, cychlorphine, has been linked to about 50 suspected overdose deaths this year, with potency estimated far higher than fentanyl. Local Health & Safety: A Nashville ordinance targets junked and abandoned vehicles as public health and safety nuisances, citing risks like pests, fire hazards, and blocked access for emergency responders. Access & Affordability: Middle Tennessee State University posted notice of proposed 2026-27 tuition and fee increases (about 4.5% tuition, 5.27% fees), with public comment open through June 11.

Opioid Prosecution: A federal jury convicted Tennessee nurse practitioner Heather Marks of illegally distributing opioids, saying she prescribed nearly a million pills to about 1,000 patients at a pain clinic in Carthage, despite signs of illegal drug use. Jail Health & Safety: Shelby County Jail inmate Coltral Pondexter, 36, died after a medical emergency early June 3; Memphis Fire transported him to Regional One Health and SCSO is investigating. Trauma Access & Politics: A Memphis-area Democratic candidate, Gordon Bryan, is pitching healthcare access in Tennessee’s 8th District primary, arguing rural residents face long drives to trauma care and that no Level I/II trauma center sits inside the district. Public Health Tech: Shyld AI will demonstrate at APIC 2026 in Nashville how “action-based” AI agents can monitor infection risks and run autonomous UV-C disinfection in hospital rooms. Nursing Shortage Watch: A WalletHub study ranked Louisiana among the worst states for nurses, projecting a shortage of about 6,000 registered nurses by 2030—an issue Tennessee readers will recognize as staffing pressure grows. Community Health Support: West Tennessee Legal Services highlighted spring clinics and workshops, including expungement help and renter’s rights support, aimed at improving stability for people navigating health and housing challenges. Local Incidents: A man was critically injured after being hit by a car in Memphis’ Medical District, and a Dyer County inmate death is tied to a traumatic head injury investigation after indictments in the jail murder case.

Nursing Home Watch (CMS Q1 2026): A wave of new CMS listings spotlights Tennessee’s long-term care landscape, with standout facilities like Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing (4 stars, Sumner County) and The Health Center at Standifer Place (5 stars, Hamilton County) alongside lower-rated homes such as Mulberry Health & Rehabilitation (1 star, Williamson County) and Smoky Mountain Post-Acute and Rehabilitation Cente (1 star, Sevier County). Local Health & Workforce: Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly appointed Erica Collins as Chief Human Resources Officer, bringing HR leadership experience from Highland Rivers Behavioral Health and prior roles with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Community Health Support: Darius Rucker’s “Darius & Friends” benefit at Nashville’s Ryman raised $5.1M+ for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, continuing its push to help families avoid treatment bills. Caregiving & Safety: A fatal crash trial in Chattanooga’s Frazier Avenue case opened with testimony from the sole survivor, who described extensive injuries and ongoing mental health care.

Hospital Safety & Opioids: A Tennessee nurse was fired after taking fentanyl from Erlanger Medical Center, and state records say AI drug-monitoring failed to flag the missing waste. Medicaid Policy: CMS released new rules that could add work, education, or community engagement requirements for many Medicaid adults starting Jan. 1, 2027, with major exemptions for groups like pregnant people and people with disabilities. Cancer Care Innovation: Parkview Health is recruiting for a trial using a device called Lilac to help prevent chemotherapy-related peripheral nerve damage. Regional Health Expansion: Baptist Memorial Health Care approved a $70 million plan to take over Merit Health Rankin in Mississippi later this year. Quality of Care: Williamson Medical Center earned a 5-star CMS rating for 2026, one of only six in Tennessee. Substance Use Watch: Tennessee finalized rules that will effectively end most intoxicating THCA hemp products on July 1, tightening the “hemp loophole.” Public Health Risk: Google faces backlash over plans to release tens of millions of modified, bacteria-infected mosquitoes in California and Florida. Community & Access: Bristol Hospice bought Hope Hospice & Palliative Care, expanding its South footprint.

Caregiving Policy: A new federal caregiving policy spotlighted in Tennessee-focused coverage highlights how FMLA can help working caregivers stay on track while managing serious illness at home, with one caregiver describing how protected leave eased medical coordination and reduced work disruption during a parent’s cancer journey. Behavioral Health Leadership: Centerstone named C.J. Davis as its new CEO as the nonprofit expands nationally after its affiliation with Brightli, aiming to improve access to behavioral health care. Local Hospital Expansion: Johnson City Medical Center is breaking ground on a major $72 million emergency department expansion, adding capacity and new technology for pediatric, adult, and trauma care across the region. Workforce & Nursing Pipeline: Williamson Health shared how it’s building the next nursing workforce through partnerships with regional colleges for clinical rotations, externships, and recruiting. Public Health & Safety: A CDC-notified gastrointestinal illness outbreak sickened a dozen people aboard a cruise ship, with symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting and the cause still under investigation. Community Health Access: A Tennessee Valley nonprofit auction campaign is raising support for groceries and essentials for households in the ALICE gap, where people are employed but still one medical bill away from crisis.

Health Costs & Affordability: A new WalletHub report finds Americans are spending a growing share of income on health care, with some states topping 10% of income on medical care—raising concerns about delayed or forgone treatment. Senior Fraud Watch: A Center for Countering Digital Hate report says Meta made an estimated $14.3 million from Medicare scam ads targeting older adults, with tens of thousands of deceptive promotions reaching millions. Tennessee Wellness in the Spotlight: A new 42-acre nonprofit retreat center in Centerville, Bask, is offering holistic restoration programs and free PTSD workshops for veterans. Hospital & Safety Tech Under Scrutiny: State nursing board records say an AI medication monitoring system failed to flag months of fentanyl theft by a nurse at Erlanger Baroness in Chattanooga. Local Care Expansion: TriStar Fairview won approval for a $21 million freestanding 24/7 emergency room with trauma care, labs, and advanced imaging. Workforce & Education: Knox Regional Health Science Education Center opened in West Knoxville, backed by $125,000 in pledges from local physicians. Public Health & Policy: Tennessee’s THCA/THC rules tighten for hemp businesses starting July 1, and rural hospitals can apply for federal funding to prevent closures. Community Health & Inclusion: Out Leadership’s 2026 index again ranks Tennessee near the bottom for LGBTQ+ inclusion, citing weak legal protections and health care access.

Telehealth & GLP-1 Safety: A Hendersonville woman says a telehealth-prescribed semaglutide dose led to near-immediate hospitalization after she couldn’t stop vomiting—raising fresh questions about dosing, oversight, and patient follow-up as GLP-1 demand surges. Drug Diversion & AI Oversight: Chattanooga’s Erlanger says a nurse pilfered fentanyl for months, and Tennessee nursing regulators allege Sentri7 AI drug-monitoring software failed to flag missing-drug “inconsistencies,” spotlighting gaps in how hospitals deploy and supervise AI safety tools. Prison Healthcare Contract Scrutiny: Alabama’s $500M NaphCare prison contract faces controversy after reports of problems in other states, with lawmakers weighing review after Tennessee-based YesCare was terminated for financial issues. Alternative Therapy Crackdown Fallout: A major investigation describes Tennessee regulators targeting chelation “wellness” practices while some providers reportedly relocate to avoid oversight—then bill Medicare, prompting federal scrutiny. Community Health & Access: Second Harvest East Tennessee hosted a mobile pantry serving about 500 families in East Tennessee, underscoring ongoing food insecurity needs. Cancer Drug Update: A Nashville-linked expert comments on an Akeso lung cancer study showing patients lived about 15% longer with ivonescimab vs immunotherapy in a China trial.

Tennessee Healthcare Policy: Ascension Saint Thomas won Tennessee Health Facilities Commission approval to build Fairview’s first freestanding Emergency Department, part of a new physician-led outpatient campus with Dickson Medical Associates, with a $20.6 million investment aimed at bringing hospital-level ER care closer to a Fairview population that’s grown more than 36% since 2010. Clinical Research: A Wake Forest team reported a new way to read a child’s development from routine ECGs, using AI to generate an “Electrocardiographic Sex Index” based on heart electrical patterns, drawing on nearly 62,000 pediatric ECGs from UTHSC Memphis. Cancer Care Advances: Reuters reports an experimental China trial where Akeso’s ivonescimab plus chemotherapy helped advanced squamous NSCLC patients live about 15% longer than an immunotherapy comparator, with Nashville’s Dr. David Spigel calling the results “very encouraging.” Public Health & Safety: Memphis police say a man is in critical condition after a Frayser shooting, and separately report a stolen-vehicle pursuit that ended with a suspect detained and taken to the hospital. Hemp Regulation: Tennessee finalized rules that will ban the sale of THCA and other hemp products starting July 1 under Alcoholic Beverage Commission enforcement.

Cybersecurity & Patient Privacy: A new wave of healthcare breaches is putting millions at risk, including attacks tied to Tri-Cities Gastroenterology in Tennessee and Integrated Pain Associates, with stolen data reportedly including Social Security numbers and medical records. Tennessee Health Policy: Tennessee has enacted new pharmacy benefit manager rules, and the fight is now in court as CVS challenges the state’s “Fair Rx” approach. Care Access & Rural Health: Erlanger announced a major expansion and renovation at Erlanger East Hospital, signaling continued investment in local capacity. Public Health & Food Security: With Summer EBT on hold until 2027, Tennessee families are looking for alternative food help options this season. Community Health: A South Nashville Family Safety Center opened a medical exam clinic for abuse survivors, adding a key access point for care. Wellness & Lifestyle Research: A large study links lower colorectal cancer risk to an anti-inflammatory diet pattern, reinforcing the role of long-term eating habits in prevention. Park Health & Infrastructure: Great Smoky Mountains National Park water and wastewater crews keep systems running for millions of visitors, highlighting the behind-the-scenes work that supports everyday health.

Public Health & Safety: Memphis secured $1.031M for a youth violence prevention initiative, funding mentorship, conflict resolution, violence prevention, youth engagement, and mental health services. Gun Safety: Nashville police reported a 2-year-old accidentally shot himself in the chest; advocates say safe storage is the key fix, and Tennessee remains among the worst for child accidental firearm deaths. Child Safety & Abuse Investigation: A Tipton County nurse was arrested after investigators found thousands of images/videos of child sex abuse material, plus drugs and a firearm. Care Access for Survivors: South Nashville’s Family Safety Center opened an on-site medical exam clinic for abuse survivors, adding forensic evidence collection and faster, safer care. Maternal & Infant Health: Memphis groups hosted a perinatal awareness push tied to the Mid-South Race for Perinatal Awareness, spotlighting NICU experiences and postpartum support. Disease Research: UT researchers identified a tick protein that may help block disease transmission, aiming to curb vector-borne illness spread. Rural Health & Infrastructure: Wilson County deployed a large public Wi-Fi network for the Tennessee State Fair to keep emergency services and operations connected during peak crowds. Local Health Story: A Vanderbilt team documented a complex voice reconstruction surgery for a Kauai man with vocal paralysis, with recovery expected over months.

Rural Health & Access: Erlanger announced a major expansion and renovation at Erlanger East Hospital, including a new 3-story 52,000-square-foot building with 22 additional beds, plus new cardiac cath, electrophysiology, and interventional radiology labs, along with a fully renovated emergency department and plans for future vertical growth. Hospital Capacity: The project also calls for hiring 100+ staff and adds pre-op, PACU, dining, and parking upgrades—aimed at reducing travel for critical care in Southeast Tennessee. Maternal & Child Nutrition: A new report highlights that many Tennessee families may be missing out on WIC benefits, with national participation still well below eligibility levels despite food-price pressure. Public Health & Safety: Inspectors in the Tennessee Valley found serious food-safety violations at a local bar/restaurant, including unsafe handling practices and temperature control problems. Community Health & Prevention: Memphis youth violence intervention groups PURE Academy and Heal 901 will split a $1.031 million federal grant to divert young people from crime. Workforce & Innovation: UT Knoxville launched the Knoxville Quantum Accelerator (K-Quantum) to build quantum research partnerships tied to life sciences and advanced manufacturing—supporting long-term health and wellness innovation in the region.

Pediatric Safety in Nashville: Metro Nashville Police say a 2-year-old was seriously injured after a gunshot at an apartment complex in Buena Vista Heights; the child was taken to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and investigators are still sorting out whether it was accidental or involved another person. Dementia Disparities: Vanderbilt-led research finds Black and Hispanic patients may be less likely to show Alzheimer’s pathology on amyloid PET imaging, raising concerns that dementia causes and diagnosis may differ across groups. GLP-1 Risk Spotlight: A Hendersonville woman says she was hospitalized after a telehealth-prescribed semaglutide dose she received was nearly nine times a typical first dose, fueling broader alarm about online access and dosing errors. Medicaid Spending Watch: New state-by-state Medicaid billing figures show Jacksboro vision services rose 8.5% in 2024, while Lebanon surgery claims climbed 25.9%—a reminder that local demand and provider patterns can shift quickly. Rural Care Funding: Baxter Health filed the first of four applications for Arkansas’ federal rural health transformation money, aiming to expand telehealth, emergency response, and “hospital at home” models. Medicare Coverage Update: AngioDynamics says Palmetto GBA issued final Medicare coverage guidance for NanoKnife irreversible electroporation for prostate and liver cancer, effective July 5, 2026. Hospital Operations: Methodist University Hospital in Memphis reported an electrical fire disrupted some services, but officials say chillers were restored and normal operations resumed.