COPA Index Advisory Group
Announcement on the COPA decision: Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, announced Sept. 19, 2017 that the request for a Certificate of Public Advantage from Wellmont Health System and Mountain States Health Alliance has been granted.
Approval Certificate Signed by MSHA
Approval Certificate Signed by WHS
*The resolution unanimously adopted by the Board of Wellmont Health System approved the September 16, 2017 draft of the Terms of Certification and any subsequent “more favorable terms” as may be agreed to by the State of Tennessee. The September 18, 2017 draft of the Terms of Certification contains a “more favorable term” that was agreed to by the State and, therefore, the September 18, 2017 draft of the Terms of Certification were approved by the Wellmont Board.
If a COPA is issued, the department will be responsible for on-going, active state supervision, according to recently promulgated state rules. This supervision will be informed by a transparent index of measures designed specifically for each COPA that will include measures of population health, access to health services, economic and other factors. All stakeholders will have opportunities to comment on the design of this index. Should a COPA be issued, the results of the index would be publically reported on a regular basis.
Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, chose the members from the area that will be most affected by the proposed merger of Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System. The purpose of the Advisory Group is to recommend measures for an Index. The Advisory Group will hold a series of listening sessions to seek regional input for these measures, and their work will conclude when they recommend measures to the Commissioner.
Members:
Chair Gary Mayes, Director, Sullivan County Health Department |
Sullivan |
Rep. David Hawk, State Representative, Greene County |
Greene |
Rep. Matthew Hill, State Representative, Part of Washington County |
Washington |
Mayor Johnny Lynch, Unicoi |
Unicoi |
Ms. Susan Reid, Executive Director, First Tennessee Development District |
Washington |
Mr. George Brewer, Administrator, Hancock Manor Nursing Home |
Hancock |
Mr. Brant Kelch, Executive Director, Highlands Physicians, Inc. |
Sullivan |
Dr. Teresa Kidd, President & CEO, Frontier Health |
Washington |
Dr. David Kirschke, Medical Director, Northeast Tennessee Regional Health Department |
Washington |
Ms. Minnie Miller, Former Director of Schools, Johnson County |
Johnson |
Ms. Erika Phillips, Coordinated School Health Director, Hawkins County Schools |
Hawkins |
Ms. Chantelle Roberson, Associate General Counsel, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee |
|
Mr. Perry Stuckey, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Eastman Chemical Company |
Sullivan |
Ms. Jan Tillman, Nurse Practitioner, Roan Mountain, Rural Health Consortia |
Carter |
Mr. Thomas J. Wennogle, President, JardinZinc |
Greene |
Dr. Brenda White Wright, Former CEO, Girls Inc. of Kingsport |
Sullivan |
Meeting Dates, Transcripts, and Video
Advisory Group Organizational Meeting
Tuesday, March 15, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Northeast State Library L106 (1st Floor), 2425 TN-75, Blountville
Advisory Group Listening Session #1 For any members of the general public
Tuesday, March 22, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Carter County Health Department, 403 East G Street, Elizabethton
Advisory Group Listening Session #2 For internal stakeholders, including employees, contractors, vendors, staff clinicians and others who currently work with Mountain States Health Alliance or Wellmont Health System
Tuesday, March 29, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Northeast State Regional Performing Arts Center, 2425 TN-75, Blountville
Advisory Group Listening Session #3 For any members of the general public
Tuesday, April 5, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Holston Electric Cooperative, 1200 West Main Street, Rogersville
Advisory Group Listening Session #4 For external stakeholders, including competing health care providers, non-staff clinicians, payers (including self-insured employers), government agencies and non-profits.
Tuesday, April 19, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Northeast State Regional Performing Arts Center, 2425 TN-75, Blountville
NEW DATES ADDED: Advisory Group Working Meetings
New Time for May 17 Working Meeting: 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. EST
April 26, May 3, May 10, May 24 all from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Additional meetings as needed. Sullivan County Regional Health Department, 154 Blountville By Pass, Blountville
NEW DATE AND LOCATION: Advisory Group Listening Session #5 For the general public and all stakeholders; during this meeting the Advisory Group will present the proposed COPA index and receive comments
Tuesday, May 31, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Sullivan County Regional Health Department, 154 Blountville By Pass, Blountville
Media inquiries about the Advisory Group can be directed to tn.health@tn.gov or 615-741-3111