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Four Tennessee Pain Clinics, including One in Tullahoma Close Amid Investigations
Four Tennessee pain management clinics have abruptly closed amid state and federal health insurance fraud investigations.
The Tennessean reports the clinics formerly with PainMD and rebranded under the name Rinova officially closed Wednesday.
Federal authorities last year accused PainMD and its parent company, MedManagement, of inflating profits by giving patients unnecessary injections that they then requested reimbursement for through federal health insurance programs. State authorities previously accused the parent company of similarly defrauding TennCare.
State and federal authorities have filed lawsuits over the allegations, and three PainMD nurses were indicted last month on related fraud charges. PainMD Nurse Practitioner Jonathan White, 49, of Tullahoma was one of those indicted.
PainMD has operated more than two dozen clinics in Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. One of the clinics that closed was in Tullahoma.
Changes for Addiction-Treatment Centers if TN Medicaid Block Grant Bill is Signed by Gov. Lee
More than 1 million Tennesseans currently receive their health care through the state’s Medicaid program, TennCare. (Adobe Stock)
Co-sponsored by several lawmakers, including state Sen. Paul Bailey, a Republican from Sparta, and Rep. Timothy Hill, a Blountville Republican, the block grant bill would give the state more flexibility in deciding how to use federal Medicaid money.
Mary-Linden Salter, executive director of the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and Other Addiction Services, says amid the state’s opioid epidemic, any changes to Medicaid billing could mean less access to residential treatment services for people struggling with addiction.
“The people who are Medicaid-eligible now are pregnant women, primary caregivers and those with disabilities, so these are not people that make a lot of money anyway,” she points out. “They would not have the means to be able to afford that kind of care.”
Salter says Tennessee is one of a handful of states that have a waiver allowing institutions with more than 16 beds to bill Medicaid. She says many more Tennesseans have been able to receive treatment for addiction under this system, and changes to federal funding could jeopardize substance-abuse treatment for people who otherwise couldn’t afford it.
Supporters of the block grant bill say it’s a cost-saving measure.
Currently, states have to comply with certain restrictions and coverage requirements in order to receive federal Medicaid funds.
Salter says if Tennessee decides to reprioritize who is eligible for Medicaid funding under the block grant, it will have to figure out how to keep providing residential addiction-treatment services.
“Anybody I’ve ever met with on this issue has tried to be very reassuring that that’s not their intent,” she relates. “I do believe that that’s not their intent. But unfortunately, they’re not going to know what they’re faced with in terms of juggling all of their priorities that they’ll have to fund, as they figure out what they’re going to pay for using a block grant.”
If the governor signs the legislation, Tennessee potentially could become first state in the country to switch its Medicaid program to the block grant structure.
Coffee County Track Qualifies Six for State Meet
Three individuals and 1 relay team of the Coffee County CHS track team punched their ticket for the TSSAA State Meet on Friday. Competing at the Section 2(Large) track meet at Rhea County High School, Coffee County kept their streak alive as they will have an athlete at the state meet for the 28th straight year.
For the Red Raiders, Trace Bryant qualified in the pole vault as he jumped a new personal best on 10’ 6” to claim 3rd place. The 4x400M relay team of John Dobson, Kelvin Verge, Renato Garcia and Trace Bryant ran their race in 3:32.88 to finish in 4th place and punch their ticket.
For the Lady Raiders, Chloe Haggard vaulted 6’6” to finish in 4th place and punch her ticket to the state meet in the pole vault. Macy Tabor cleared 4’ 10” for a 4th place finish in the high jump to earn her spot in the state championships.
The TSSAA State Meet will take place on Wednesday, May 22nd thru Friday May 24th at MTSU’s Dean Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium in Murfreesboro. For full results of the Sectional Meet, go to: https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/MeetResults.aspx?Meet=347500&show=all
Coffee County CHS Red Raider Tennis Team Season Comes to a Close
Members of the district champion Red Raider tennis team. From left to right – Landon Booth, Benedict Edinger, Jaden Talley, Johnathan Welch, Jonah Rollman and coach Josh Inzer. [Photo by Janice Talley]
The Raiders dropped their first 4 singles matches to end the match early. Playing the best of 3 sets, Benedict Edinger lost in straight sets (0-6 & 0-6). Jayden Talley lost in straight sets(0 & 2), Jonah Rollman fell (0 & 0) and Welch lost (0 & 1).
Next up for the Raider tennis team is the region singles/doubles tournament. Only Coffee County’s Benedict Edinger qualified for the region tournament. Edinger will compete in the region tournament on Monday at 2 PM in the Adams Tennis Complex at Old Fort Park in Murfreesboro.
5/10/19 — Birthdays
Birthdays:
Chris Shelton, 29 — Pizza Winner!
Eric Keith, 34
Carol Kennedy
Food Lion Birthday Cake Winner:
Hannah Brock, 17
Flowers by Michael Anniversary Winner:
Cathy & Tyler Patton, 5
5/13/19 — Linda Lou Gaultney
Funeral services for Mrs. Linda Lou Gaultney, age 74, of Manchester, TN, will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Monday, May 13, 2019, at Coffee County Funeral Chapel with Brother James Butler officiating. Burial will follow in the Welker Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 11:00 AM until time of the service on Monday at the funeral home. Mrs. Gaultney passed away on Thursday, May 09, 2019 at her residence surrounded by her loving family.
Linda was born in Manchester, TN, the daughter of the late Virgil and Etha Thomas. She was a homemaker and she attended of the Summitville United Methodist Church. Linda enjoyed fishing, sewing, watching wrestling with her granddaughters, absolutely loved to mow her yard, and most of all spending time with her family.
In addition to her parents, Linda was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Gaultney; stepfather, Rob Jones. She is survived by one son, Ritchie Gaultney (Benita); one daughter, Penny Lemons (Mark); one sister, Thelma Green; four grandchildren, Mandy Bowling (Jeremy), Clint Gaultney, Cole Gaultney, and Zac Lemons; four great grandchildren, Macin Stacy, Shea Stacy, Zach Bowling, and Kendra Gaultney.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Gaultney family
5/13/19 — Mary Frances Foster
Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Frances Foster, age 83, of Manchester, TN, will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Monday, May 13, 2019, at Coffee County Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow in Gnat Hill Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held on Sunday, May 12, 2019 at Coffee County Funeral Chapel from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Mrs. Foster passed away on Thursday, May 09, 2019 at Manchester Healthcare.
Mary was born in Pelham, TN, the daughter of the late James William and Mary Etta Magourik. She retired from UPS in Cleveland, Ohio after 35 years as a dispatcher. She attended Chapmans Chapel Church of the Nazarene in Pelham, TN. Mary enjoyed sewing and cooking for her family.
In addition to her parents, Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Foster; two brothers, Kenneth Magourik and Joey Magourik. She is survived by one brother, J.W. Magourik (Dorothy); one sister- in- law, Shirley Magourik; her companion, Lucky; and several nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Magourik family
Thursday Prep Results and Friday Prep Schedule
Thursday Prep Results
WMS Golf at Tullahoma – Conference Tournament at Lakewood – PPD until Tuesday, May 14th
CHS Boys’ Soccer fell to Shelbyville – District 8AAA Tournament(Finals) – 1 to 0 – See the Story HERE
Friday Prep Schedule
11:00 AM – CHS Track in Sectional Meet at Rhea Co
1:00 PM – CHS Tennis vs. Central Magnet – Region Tournament at Murfreesboro
CHS Soccer Season Ends in District Finals at Shelbyville
Coffee County CHS Seniors in front is Drake Medina. Standing, left to right: Kix Ferrell, Clinton Ferrell, Keaton Mai, Leo Botello, Briggs Haithcock and Francesco Alzate.
After not allowing a goal for more than three hundred minutes the Coffee County CHS soccer team surrendered their first goal since April 25th. A penalty kick in the 29th minute by Shelbyville proved to be the only score in Thursday’s District 8AAA finals. Coffee County saw their season come to a close in the 1 to 0 loss to the Eagles in Shelbyville.
In a game featuring a pair of strong defensive performances, the Red Raiders battled hard but could not notch the tying goal. The Red Raiders finished the season winning 4 of their last 5 matches. Coach Robert Harper will be a guest on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show to talk about the season. The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast live each Saturday at 10 AM from the showroom of Al White Ford/Lincoln. The Coffee Coaches Show is heard exclusively here on Thunder Radio.
Coffee County CHS Lady Raider Basketball to Host Camp
The Coffee County Central High School Lady Raider basketball team will host the 2019 Lil Raider Camp on Tuesday, May 28th thru Thursday May 31st. The camp is open to boys and girls ages 5 to 15 and will be held at the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym.
Campers will be placed in groups by age and skill level and will work on basketball fundamental with head coach Joe Pat Cope and assistant coach Matt Vinson as well as Coffee County Middle School coach George Pearson and former and current Raiders and Lady Raiders. Each kid will receive a camp t-shirt. Cost is $60 per player. Registration will be held at the CHS gym on Saturday, May 11th from 9 to 11 AM. For more information, contact Joe Pat Cope at: copej@k12coffee.net