Meharry Medical College self-reports Medicare returns after National General Hospital audit

The Hospital Authority Board of Nashville convened on March 27, 2025, to discuss various agenda items aimed at enhancing healthcare services in the community. The meeting commenced with Dr. Hudson reading the mission statement, which emphasizes improving health and wellness through equitable access to patient-centered care and supporting future caregivers.

Public comments were introduced by Lori Donnell, Senior Vice President for Health Affairs at Meharry Medical College. She addressed allegations from a recent audit concerning Nashville General Hospital, stating that Meharry conducted its own investigation. The findings led to a decision to self-report to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and return approximately $5,000 to various carriers, clarifying that no significant issues were found.

The board then deferred the approval of minutes from the February and March meetings due to the recording secretary's commitments. Christy Lewis, Chief Compliance Officer for Nashville General Hospital, provided an update on the Professional Services Agreement (PSA). She reported significant progress in documentation and clarified credentialing requirements, with a new term date set for July 1. The frequency of meetings has increased to bi-weekly to facilitate ongoing collaboration.

The board reviewed a new conflict of interest policy, which is currently under legal review. The aim is to condense the policy for clarity and efficiency, with a final report expected at the next meeting.

Dr. Katz reported on the status of medical staff bylaws, noting that the committee has met twice and will continue to work collaboratively to finalize the document. Dr. Miller presented the credentials report, recommending several new appointments and reappointments to the medical staff, which were unanimously approved by the board.

Lastly, Miss Denson introduced two new members of the quality department and began her quality report, which included a dashboard of performance metrics. The meeting concluded with a focus on ongoing improvements in healthcare delivery and collaboration among Nashville's medical institutions. The next meeting is anticipated to further address these developments and finalize pending policies.