Blake Farmer

reporter for WPLN, Nashville

Blake Farmer appears in the following:

In The Fight For Money For The Opioid Crisis, Will The Youngest Victims Be Left Out?

Friday, November 22, 2019

The opioid epidemic is intergenerational, with tens of thousands of babies born every year dependent on opioids. Advocates worry lawsuits against the drug industry might overlook these children.

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Some Academics Quietly Take Side Jobs Helping Tobacco Companies In Court

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Faced with lawsuits from sick smokers, tobacco firms argue the health risks were "common knowledge" for decades, and they often pay professors to help make that point as expert witnesses.

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Some Hospitals Sue Opioid Makers For Costs Of Treating Uninsured For Addiction

Thursday, October 24, 2019

A few hundred hospitals have banded together to sue drugmakers in state courts, but far more are staying on the sidelines to avoid 'unflattering attention' about their role in the opioid crisis.

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Many High-Profile Hospitals Resist Suing Opioid Makers

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Cities and counties aren't the only ones suing opioid manufacturers. Hospitals have also filed lawsuits, seeking to recover the costs of treating opioid addiction and overdoses.

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At 'High Five' Camp, Struggling With A Disability Is The Point

Saturday, August 10, 2019

A day camp in Nashville uses "constraint-induced therapy" to help kids who have physical weakness on one side — often because of a stroke or cerebral palsy — gain strength and independence.

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Coordinating Care Of Mind And Body Might Help Medicaid Save Money And Lives

Wednesday, August 07, 2019

Tennessee's innovative Medicaid program is offering bonuses to mental health providers who help make sure their Medicaid patients get preventive help and treatment for physical ailments too.

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2 Nurses In Tennessee Preach 'Diabetes Reversal'

Monday, July 22, 2019

Patients with Type 2 diabetes are often steered toward medicine or insulin to control blood sugar. But it's also possible, with more support than patients often get, to use diet and exercise instead.

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New Organ Transplant Rules Mean Livers Ship To Sickest Patients Not Nearest

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

A new national system governing liver transplants went into effect Tuesday, despite an ongoing lawsuit that objects to donor livers being moved from more rural places to more populous cities.

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Amid Opioid Prescriber Crackdown, Health Officials Reach Out To Pain Patients

Friday, April 19, 2019

After dozens of health care workers were charged with illegally prescribing opioids in Appalachia, local health agencies are trying to make sure chronic pain patients don't fall through the cracks.

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Republican State Lawmakers Split Over Anti-Abortion Strategy

Friday, April 12, 2019

Ohio is the latest Republican-led state to pass a ban on abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. But Tennessee this week backed off on a similar bill, fearing costly legal battles. What now?

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Economic Ripples: Hospital Closure Hurts A Town's Ability To Attract Retirees

Sunday, April 07, 2019

Celina, Tenn., has long lured retirees, with its scenic hills and affordability. These newcomers help fuel the local economy. But a recent hospital closure makes the town a harder sell.

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FDA Tightening Regulatory Requirements For Some Medical Devices

Monday, March 04, 2019

High-profile failures of implantable medical devices — such as certain hip joints and pelvic mesh — have prompted the Food and Drug Administration to revise its assessment process.

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Morphine, And A Side Of Grief Counseling: Nursing Students Learn How To Handle Death

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Research has found that university curriculum often goes light on one of life's universal experiences — dying. So some colleges have gone to new lengths to make the training more meaningful.

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How Helping Patients Get Good Care At Home Helps Rural Hospitals Survive

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Hospitals are now financially rewarded by insurers for safety and efficacy — which often results in patients spending less time as inpatients.

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Sales Reps May Be Wearing Out Their Welcome In The Operating Room

Friday, November 23, 2018

It has been an open secret that salespeople are present for surgeries at many hospitals, especially for hip and knee implants. But does the reps' expertise outweigh concerns about ethics and costs?

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Insurer To Purdue Pharma: We Won't Pay For OxyContin Anymore

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Embattled drugmaker Purdue Pharma defends OxyContin as some insurers are dropping the drug in favor of other abuse-deterrent opioid painkillers.

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Federal Judge In Texas To Hear States' Case Against Obamacare

Tuesday, September 04, 2018

On Wednesday, a federal judge in Fort Worth hears arguments over whether to suspend the Affordable Care Act also known as Obamacare. Twenty states, led by Texas, are bringing a fresh court challenge.

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To Prevent Doctor Suicides, Employers Rethink How Doctors Work

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Doctors are far more likely to take their own lives than the general population. Some medical professionals are working to change that.

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Family Caregivers Exchange Tips, Share Stories To Ease Alzheimer's Losses

Friday, July 06, 2018

As the number of people with Alzheimer's climbs, so does the number of loved ones caring for them. The health of 16 million unpaid U.S. caregivers has become a focus for Alzheimer's advocacy groups.

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Don't Touch! A Scientist's Advice For Spotting Poison Ivy Before It Ruins Your Summer

Friday, June 08, 2018

The best way to treat poison ivy is to avoid touching it in the first place. But that's tricky, given the many faces the rash-inducing plant can have.

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