FOCUS TOPICS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & ADDICTION ICD-10/PRACTICE MANAGEMENT HEALTHCARE REAL ESTATE
April 2015 >> $5
PHYSICIAN SPOTLIGHT PAGE 2
Robert Hamm, MD
Some Answers in Short Supply During ‘Day on the Hill’ Event leaving 200,000 to 300,000 lives uncovered. “These people cannot qualify for tradiAttendance was up approximately 20 tional Medicaid or vouchers or buy insurpercent for this year’s Day on the Hill, the ance on the free market. Most are working annual one-on-one meeting in Nashville of part-time in service industries, are seasonal legislators and physicians, nurses and healthhelp, or are PRN in health care,” he said. care administrators for the opportunity to Anderson said they were not given a reaexchange opinions and concerns about issues son for the two-year window. He explained affecting healthcare. it might just be a political cycle. The reason The two chief issues for the physicians given for the failure of the measure, he said, and administrators involved during last was discontent with the Affordable Care Act month’s gathering, according to Keith G. which is what was perceived as the driver of Anderson, MD, were Governor Bill Haslam’s this plan, and that this was a statement from failed Insure Tennessee effort and the Payor the local legislature. He cited a heavy, orgaAccountability Act. nized coalition against Insure Tennessee that Anderson, a cardiologist with Sutherland had protested on the hill before the vote was Clinic and the new president of the Tennestaken. see Medical Association (TMA), observed, “It was a very well-written plan and I “One of our priorities as a medical commucommend Governor Haslam for his hard Keith G. Anderson nity has been to promote Insure Tennessee, work on it. The time and effort put into crebut this year, since it’s already been voted ating it was tremendous. I’m just so sorry it down, we went with a ‘What happened? Can you give us the details failed so quickly in the legislature,” Anderson said. of why Insure Tennessee did not pass?’ mindset.” The Payor Accountability bill, addressed in the 109th General Anderson, a physician for 25 years, expressed his discontent that Assembly, was promoted by physicians to legislators during Day on such an initiative is prohibited from coming up again for two years, (CONTINUED ON PAGE 8) By GINGER H. PORTER
ON ROUNDS
Healthcare Real Estate Market Solid In Spite of Economic Challenges Hillary Clinton famously said, “It takes a village.” For behavioral health providers, that concept – played out in communities all across Tennessee – has proven to be true ... 3
Marijuana, Medicine & Addiction A conversation with ASAM President Dr. Stuart Gitlow With three states plus the District of Columbia sanctioning recreational use of marijuana and virtually all other states either allowing for or considering decriminalization and/or medical use of the drug, the great marijuana debate has become ... 5
ONLINE: WESTTN MEDICAL NEWS.COM
HealthcareLeader Lisa Piercey, MD Vice President, Physician Services, West Tennessee Healthcare By SUZANNE BOyD
As though being the mother of four – three of which are triplets – would not be challenging enough, try also being a pediatrician who is one of only six in the state sub-boarded in child abuse. Add to that being vice president of physician services for West Tennessee Healthcare, which involves overseeing more than 700 em-
ployees across more than 27 locations in nine counties throughout West Tennessee. If that is not enough to make you feel challenged, try being an active triathlete as well as serving on the boards of several community organizations. At the very heart of Piercey is her love of kids, family and her West Tennessee roots. The Trenton native was born in the flagship hospital (CONTINUED ON PAGE 4)
To promote your business or practice in this high profile spot, contact Pamela Harris at West TN Medical News. pharris@medicalnewsinc.com 501.247.9189
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