Latest news with #VUMC
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Big Beautiful Bill' means a Code Blue for Tennessee health care
Vanderbilt University Medical Center has been hit by $250 million in federal budget cuts. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) The U.S. House of Representatives passed their 'Big Beautiful Bill' by a vote of 215-214. Every member of the Tennessee Congressional delegation voted yes, with the exception of 9th District U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat. And with that vote, they put thousands of Tennesseans at risk of losing their healthcare and their food benefits. Cuts to TennCare, our state's Medicaid program, will hurt vulnerable Tennesseans — people with disabilities, low income pregnant women, the elderly and children — who depend on this program for access to primary care, preventative care, prenatal and postpartum care and skilled nursing care. We also face historic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program, right as school lets out for the summer — a time when many kids go hungry. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 57,000 Tennesseans with children stand to lose their SNAP benefits. This means children will get up and go to bed hungry all over our state. Healthcare workers in Tennessee have been sounding the alarm bells on a number of issues for years now: COVID public health measures and vaccine outreach, threats to reproductive healthcare, and, more recently, the NIH funding cuts and the resulting loss of grant money for medical research. Here in Middle Tennessee, one of our biggest employers, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), has announced $250 million in federal budget cuts and has already begun layoffs as a result of the funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). VUMC received $468 million in 2024 for medical research, the second most in the country according to Axios. Overall, Tennessee universities received $770 million in funding for research from the NIH last year alone. 250k Tennesseans could lose TennCare, private insurance under Congressional spending bill Statewide, the cuts have also affected the University of Tennessee Health System, Meharry Medical College and St Jude Children's Research Hospital. Meharry Medical College is an historically Black college (HBCU) in Nashville and it helps to fill the gap of underrepresented minorities in the healthcare workforce. In Memphis, St. Jude's is the hospital where parents can get treatment for their children with cancer and other diseases without fear of medically bankrupting their families. We have only just begun to feel the pain from the loss of the critical NIH funding source for these essential organizations. Eventually, medical research will slow, and breakthrough science, like the work that was done at Vanderbilt to develop the COVID vaccine, will be threatened. Now, it's time for health care workers and advocates to answer the call for healthcare again. We need to press that Code Blue button in Tennessee, gathering our colleagues together to fight the impending federal budget cuts that threaten Medicaid and SNAP. Inside the hospital, activating a Code Blue means there is a medical emergency and a patient in need of resuscitation. Here in Tennessee, our healthcare system is in dire straits. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 250,000 Tennesseans will lose their healthcare coverage as a result of Medicaid cuts and other changes to the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace. This is on top of the already over 635,000 Tennesseans lacking any healthcare coverage in 2023, about 11% of the population in our state. Because of our high uninsured rate, Tennessee has had more rural hospital closures per capita than anywhere else in the country, which has led to maternity care deserts and factors into our dismal maternal mortality rates. This 'Big Beautiful Bill' will have far-reaching consequences for all Tennesseans, not just those who rely on TennCare and SNAP. Hospitals, especially rural ones, run on slim margins and will be at increased risk of closure due to the Medicaid cuts. According to Becker's Hospital review, over 41% of rural hospitals in Tennessee are vulnerable. Rural hospitals in our state closing will inevitably lead to further crowding in the tertiary care hospitals in our big cities. Wait times in emergency departments will go up for everyone. Appointments to see primary care and specialists will be harder to get. It couldn't be any clearer: when one person is denied healthcare access, it affects us all. There is a Code Blue in Tennessee. Our patients, neighbors, hospitals and communities need our help. We cannot let heartless politicians pull the plug and flatline our safety net just to give tax cuts to billionaires. It's time to gather all hands on deck to save our healthcare system that is teetering on the brink before it's too far gone to resuscitate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Despite Trump's order, a surprising number of DEI programs remain 'active' at colleges and universities
A new investigation tracking the current state of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at colleges and universities from conservative nonprofit Defending Education found that there are still 383 "currently active" DEI offices and programs, with 243 universities maintaining institution-wide DEI offices or programming. Defending Education, formerly known as Parents Defending Education, is a nationwide grassroots organization that works to "fight indoctrination in classrooms and on campus to promote the reestablishment of a quality, non-political education for all students." In addition to tracking those DEI offices and programs that are still active, the group's investigation also highlighted that Defending Education uncovered dozens of schools that have taken steps to rebrand or reorganize their DEI efforts, as opposed to shutting them down like others have done. Major University Medical Center Accused Of Hiding Dei Programs, Influential Senator Calls Them Out At least 27 universities, colleges or schools within such institutions have taken steps to do this, according to the investigation. Meanwhile, in "a few cases," schools have moved their online DEI resources behind password-protected web pages, Defending Education also pointed out. "DEI evangelists at federally funded institutions are hiding race discrimination in an effort to violate federal law and think they won't be found out. But our latest report demonstrates they already have been," said Sarah Parshall Perry, Defending Education Vice President and Legal Fellow, who has extensive legal experience in the higher education realm. "Despite a very clear directive from the White House to end 'DEI' practices, too many institutions of higher education have simply sent their discrimination underground by renaming or reorganizing race-based initiatives and DEI offices." Read On The Fox News App Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is an example of one of the universities that has been accused of attempting to hide their DEI resources. In response to the accusations, a VUMC spokesperson told Fox News Digital at the time that it was undergoing "a thorough review" of its programs to figure out "where revisions may be required to remain in compliance, including updating information on websites and other public platforms." However, today, offices such as the Office of Health Equity, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Office for Diversity Affairs are seemingly still active, according to Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. Watchdog Group Exposes Red State College Administrator Explaining 'Loophole' Around Anti-dei Law The White House blasted some of the nation's premier universities for "egregious illegal behavior," after Harvard refused to comply with Trump administration demands related to ending their DEI programs. Amid Harvard's refusal to comply, the administration revealed this week that it would freeze more than $2 billion in federal funding for the institution. During a press briefing this week, when asked why federal funding was so available to premier Ivy League institutions like Harvard, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was a question President Donald Trump frequently ponders himself. "It's a question the president has obviously raised in his discussions," Leavitt said. "I think a lot of Americans are wondering why their tax dollars are going to these universities when they are not only indoctrinating our nation's students, but also allowing such egregious illegal behavior to occur." Perry told Fox News Digital that Defending Education will not stop looking for "discrimination" in higher education, in an effort to make the guarantee of a "colorblind education" for every American student a reality "once and for all." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not hear back by time of article source: Despite Trump's order, a surprising number of DEI programs remain 'active' at colleges and universities
Fox News
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Despite Trump's order, a surprising number of DEI programs remain 'active' at colleges and universities
A new investigation tracking the current state of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at colleges and universities from conservative nonprofit Defending Education found that there are still 383 "currently active" DEI offices and programs, with 243 universities maintaining institution-wide DEI offices or programming. Defending Education, formerly known as Parents Defending Education, is a nationwide grassroots organization that works to "fight indoctrination in classrooms and on campus to promote the reestablishment of a quality, non-political education for all students." In addition to tracking those DEI offices and programs that are still active, the group's investigation also highlighted that Defending Education uncovered dozens of schools that have taken steps to rebrand or reorganize their DEI efforts, as opposed to shutting them down like others have done. At least 27 universities, colleges or schools within such institutions have taken steps to do this, according to the investigation. Meanwhile, in "a few cases," schools have moved their online DEI resources behind password-protected web pages, Defending Education also pointed out. "DEI evangelists at federally funded institutions are hiding race discrimination in an effort to violate federal law and think they won't be found out. But our latest report demonstrates they already have been," said Sarah Parshall Perry, Defending Education Vice President and Legal Fellow, who has extensive legal experience in the higher education realm. "Despite a very clear directive from the White House to end 'DEI' practices, too many institutions of higher education have simply sent their discrimination underground by renaming or reorganizing race-based initiatives and DEI offices." Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is an example of one of the universities that has been accused of attempting to hide their DEI resources. In response to the accusations, a VUMC spokesperson told Fox News Digital at the time that it was undergoing "a thorough review" of its programs to figure out "where revisions may be required to remain in compliance, including updating information on websites and other public platforms." However, today, offices such as the Office of Health Equity, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Office for Diversity Affairs are seemingly still active, according to Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. The White House blasted some of the nation's premier universities for "egregious illegal behavior," after Harvard refused to comply with Trump administration demands related to ending their DEI programs. Amid Harvard's refusal to comply, the administration revealed this week that it would freeze more than $2 billion in federal funding for the institution. During a press briefing this week, when asked why federal funding was so available to premier Ivy League institutions like Harvard, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was a question President Donald Trump frequently ponders himself. "It's a question the president has obviously raised in his discussions," Leavitt said. "I think a lot of Americans are wondering why their tax dollars are going to these universities when they are not only indoctrinating our nation's students, but also allowing such egregious illegal behavior to occur." Perry told Fox News Digital that Defending Education will not stop looking for "discrimination" in higher education, in an effort to make the guarantee of a "colorblind education" for every American student a reality "once and for all." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not hear back by time of publication.
Axios
16-04-2025
- Health
- Axios
Sen. Blackburn slams VUMC over "concealing" DEI
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is facing mounting federal scrutiny this week after Sen. Marsha Blackburn sent a letter accusing the institution of failing to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Why it matters: President Trump has threatened to withhold mountains of federal funding from medical centers or universities that don't eliminate all DEI programs. Blackburn, a close Trump ally and likely candidate for governor next year, is putting VUMC under a microscope. What she's saying: The senator accused VUMC of "concealing" its DEI efforts on password-protected websites "instead of fully complying with President Trump's executive action to end wasteful DEI programs in educational institutions." Zoom in:"Offices such as the Office of Health Equity, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Office for Diversity Affairs are seemingly still active," Blackburn said in her letter. "These offices have advocated for 'collectively addressing systemic inequities' and 'confronting structural racism.'" The other side: VUMC spokesperson John Howser said the medical center "is eliminating all DEI programs and is fully complying with executive actions on DEI. "Shortly after the Executive Orders were issued, VUMC began removing related content on internal and external websites to reflect the termination of these programs," he said in a statement. "VUMC will continue to comply with federal mandates and directives." Between the lines: Health research has a problematic history with exclusion: It wasn't until the early 1990s that women were required by law to be included in health studies. VUMC has worked to expand its research. For instance, VUMC researchers have examined higher rates of heart failure for women and black men in rural areas. VUMC's Office of Health Equity works to ensure that disadvantaged groups have access to health care. For instance, the office studies community health needs in six Middle Tennessee counties. The big picture: Trump has taken a hardline stance against diversity initiatives in and outside of government. The battle between Republicans and research institutions over DEI is coming to an apex.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Blackburn accuses Vanderbilt medical center of 'concealing' DEI programs targeted by Trump
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, sent a letter April 15 to Vanderbilt University Medical Center President Jeffrey Balser urging him to stop concealing diversity, equity and inclusion programs to comply with President Donald Trump's mission. "For the benefit of Tennesseans and all Americans who rely on VUMC for lifesaving care and research, I urge you to end all DEI programs and fully comply with the President's executive action," Blackburn wrote. Blackburn wrote that the medical center scrubbed its website of references to DEI initiatives, "going so far as to password protect web pages tied to DEI and climate activism." "Concerningly, though, offices such as the Office of Health Equity, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Office for Diversity Affairs are seemingly still active," Blackburn wrote in her letter. "These offices have advocated for 'collectively addressing systemic inequities' and 'confronting structural racism,' " according to Blackburn's letter. She pointed to the more than $66 million the medical center has received during this fiscal year in federal funds through the National Institutes of Health. John Howser, the medical center's chief communications officer, said in a statement April 16 in response to the letter that Vanderbilt is eliminating all DEI programs and is "fully complying with Executive Actions on DEI." "Shortly after the Executive Orders were issued, VUMC began removing related content on internal and external websites to reflect the termination of these programs," Howser said. "VUMC will continue to comply with federal mandates and directives." Balser initiated a hiring freeze in March for most research positions as the Nashville medical center and other leading U.S. research hospitals brace for deep cuts as Trump continues shrinking the federal government, including NIH grant money. In her letter, Blackburn said the medical center has invested more than $17 million in diversity and equity programs, including efforts to hire diverse biomedical researchers, which is "only one of many examples of VUMC investing in DEI initiatives instead of lifesaving medical research." "VUMC's track record on embracing harmful woke initiatives is grim," Blackburn said, citing the medical center's treatment programs for transgender patients, including minors. Howser didn't respond to these comments by Blackburn. Beth Warren covers health care and can be reached at bwarren@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Marsha Blackburn attacks Vanderbilt medical center for DEI spending
