Health Policy

September 10, 2025

Study reveals new evidence, cost savings for common treatments for opioid use disorder in mothers and infants

Researchers found that while established medications for opioid use disorder in mothers are both superior and cost saving compared to alternative treatment pathways, buprenorphine produced the greatest health gains and cost savings for mothers and infants.

By Jake Lowary
Martha Shepherd, DO, MPH, medical director, Vanderbilt Health at MNPS, and David Hines, MNPS executive director of Benefits, helped design and oversee cost-saving wellness benefits for MNPS teachers. (photo by Donn Jones)
February 25, 2025

Metro Nashville Public Schools’ culture of wellness bolsters employee health, cuts costs

The MNPS Certificated Employee Health Plan covers 6,500 in collaboration with Vanderbilt Health active teachers plus 11,500 retirees and dependents.

By Bill Snyder
July 22, 2024

Opioid treatment can avoid foster care placement: study

If women are given medications to treat opioid use disorder during their pregnancy they are significantly more likely to retain custody of their newborns after delivery

By Bill Snyder
June 18, 2024

Study tallies reports of unprofessional behavior among physicians

Reports from 193 hospitals were analyzed. It turns out that surgeons draw the most complaints.

By Paul Govern
May 16, 2024

Clinician accountability program from VUMC associated with large savings

A program run by Vanderbilt University Medical Center that provides peer feedback to high-risk clinicians was associated with a significant decrease in malpractice claims costs at a large orthopaedic surgery practice, according to a recent study.

By Paul Govern
March 19, 2024

Over 40% of Tennessee Families With Children Say They Are Food Insecure; 70% Have Changed Spending on Food

This year’s Vanderbilt Child Health Poll shows that over 40% of Tennessee families report they are food insecure ― a similar proportion from last year. Most families (71%) say they have continued to change food spending habits due to high prices.

By Jake Lowary
March 15, 2024

Emerging Infections Program extends, expands disease surveillance research with new grant from the CDC

The Tennessee Emerging Infections Program has been awarded a new five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue infectious disease surveillance research that has been conducted since 1999, and has expanded to include COVID, Mpox and HPV surveillance into oropharyngeal cancers.
By VUMC News and Communications
February 27, 2024

Lack of Insurance among Tennessee children remains low, while mental health concerns persist

The latest analysis of the 2024 Tennessee Child Health Poll has found that the proportion of uninsured kids in Tennessee held steady from the 2023 poll, and the rates of mental health diagnoses and associated concerns from Tennessee parents remain high.
By VUMC News and Communications
February 7, 2024

Education, bullying, mental health, school gun violence top list of parental concerns for their children: poll

The latest results from an annual poll of Tennessee parents from the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy again show education and school quality is the leading concern parents have for their children for the third consecutive year.
By Tamarra McElroy and Jake Lowary
January 4, 2024

Study finds significant increased risk of future health issues for youth who suffer nonfatal firearm injuries

A Vanderbilt study found that youth who suffer nonfatal firearm injuries have a significantly increased risk of hospitalizations, emergency department visits, outpatient visits and costs in the 12 months following injury compared to youth without a firearm injury.
By Jessica Pasley
August 7, 2023

Effective medications for opioid use disorder rarely used

Vanderbilt research shows that most individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder are not on recommended medications and even fewer remain in care.
By Craig Boerner
May 24, 2023

Child Health Poll: more than 1 in 4 Tennessee parents worried their kids have undiagnosed depression, anxiety

The latest analysis of the 2023 Tennessee Child Health Poll, released during National Mental Health Awareness Month, has found that roughly 29% of Tennessee parents are concerned their child has undiagnosed anxiety or depression.
By Jake Lowary
May 17, 2023

Poll shows more than 1 in 4 Tennessee parents worried their kids have undiagnosed depression, anxiety

The latest analysis of the 2023 Tennessee Child Health Poll, released during National Mental Health Awareness Month, has found that roughly 29% of Tennessee parents are concerned their child has undiagnosed anxiety or depression.
By Jake Lowary
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