Tennessee
Opponents of repealing Tennessee’s Certificate of Need law are fearmongering
Augusta Birth Center holds press conference on Certificate-of-Need law
Augusta Birth Center founder Katie Chubb, along with Americans for Prosperity-Georgia, hold a press conference about certificate-of-need laws.
Katie Goodale, Augusta Chronicle
RE: “Tennessee Certificate of Need health care laws can be improved but should not be repealed,” by Wendy Long, March 18.
A recent piece by Tennessee Hospital Association CEO Wendy Long erroneously claims that repealing Certificate of Need (CON) laws will decrease access to healthcare. This, even though CON laws by design make it difficult or impossible for healthcare facilities to open or expand.
Dr. Long and other proponents argue that hospitals will close without the monopoly power conferred by CON laws, claiming that if new healthcare facilities open, existing hospitals may lose privately insured patients and won’t be viable with only uninsured or under-insured patients. This argument is intended to sound scary, but real-world evidence shows it’s untrue.
One-third of the U.S. population live in states without CON laws, making it easy to compare outcomes in CON and non-CON states.
The research shows states without CON laws have more hospitals and surgery centers per capita. The results hold up when researchers study only rural communities, ending the “cherry-picking” argument.
If repealing CON laws causes hospital closures, we would see fewer hospitals in non-CON states. Yet the exact opposite is true. States without CON laws have more facilities.
Further, CON laws don’t increase access to care for underserved populations. A 2023 review of all academic CON law studies found no evidence that CON laws lead to greater care for underserved populations. In fact, one test found that safety-net hospitals had higher profit margins in states that already nixed their CON laws.
When considering CON repeal, policymakers should heed the research instead of allowing fearmongering from CON beneficiaries to guide legislative reforms.
Jaimie Cavanaugh is legal policy counsel at Pacific Legal Foundation and Jeff Mazzella of Franklin, Tennessee is president at Center for Individual Freedom.
Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@tennessean.com. Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation.
Sissy arrived at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in 2000, where caretakers began monitoring and managing her osteoarthritis. Sanctuary leaders said a recent progression of the disease caused what they described as “clear signs” of pain and swelling in her right wrist.
JACKSON, Tenn. (WBBJ) – The Tennessee Highway Patrol held an open house Thursday at the THP Jackson District Office in West Madison County for those interested in becoming a state trooper.
Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the various operations of the THP and the roles the department offers.
Trooper Tiffanie Williams said the career comes with competitive benefits and a sense of community responsibility.
“What makes us a good career choice is, one, base your retirement plan is pretty good, your benefits are pretty good. Also, just giving back to the community — we kind of hold ourselves to a higher standard,” Williams said.
For more information about the Tennessee Highway Patrol and how to get involved, click here.
Copyright 2026 WBBJ. All rights reserved.
Tennessee State men’s hockey has once again canceled its inaugural season.
The first ever ice hockey team at an historically Black, public university was expected to begin play in 2025-26, but the season was canceled due to a fundraising shortfall. Now, the team has canceled its 2026-27 season according to a source with knowledge of the situation who wished to remain anonymous because the news is not public.
The Tennessean reached out to Tennessee State president Dwayne Tucker, who decline to comment on the situation.
The Tennessee State’s men’s hockey website does not have a schedule, roster, or any team events listed on its website. The site’s most recent update was July 10 of last year, an announcement about the 2025-26 season cancellation. Requests for additional information about the hockey team have gone unanswered.
This delay in the start of the men’s hockey team comes three years after the team’s inception was announced at Bridgestone Arena ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft. The Nashville Predators and NHL were instrumental in bringing a team to Tennessee State, and a representative with the Predators confirmed that support is ongoing.
While the 2025-26 cancellation followed unrest about the school’s financial situation, it’s unclear if this year’s cancellation is for the same reason or if its related to the school’s recent turmoil in the athletic department.
In May, six coaches gave a vote of no confidence for Tennessee State’s athletic director Mikki Allen. A letter to Dwayne Tucker on May 29 expressed concern about the “current direction, leadership, communication, and operational management of the athletic department” under Allen.
Men’s hockey coach Duante Abercrombie was not among the six coaches mentioned in the letter.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. He never uses artificial intelligence when developing or drafting stories. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
-
Los Angeles, Ca41 minutes agoKnee irritation forces Shohei Ohtani out of Friday start, All‑Star game
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoDetroit Evening Report: Waymo cars blocking first responders – WDET 101.9 FM
-
San Francisco, CA1 hour agoSan Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie Blocks Vacant Grocery Store Tax Proposal | KQED
-
Miami, FL1 hour agoOregon Battling Miami, Mario Cristobal for Four-Star EDGE Recruit
-
Dallas, TX1 hour agoFC Dallas Forward Logan Farrington Inks Contract Extension
-
Boston, MA1 hour agoRed Sox face lengthy travel issues ahead of series vs. Mets
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoWhat’s going on with the Nuggets? Unpacking an NBA offseason on hold
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoSeattle Kraken Sign Goaltender Victor Östman and Defenseman Ville Ottavainen to One-Year Deals | Seattle Kraken
