TDH holds Ballad Health COPA meeting after yearlong delay

After being delayed by more than a year, the Tennessee Department of Health hosted a public meeting regarding Ballad Health’s Certificate of Public Advantage. About 25 community members spoke at Northeast State Community College to voice their thoughts on the COPA. COPA is a written approval by the TDH that governs a merger or cooperative agreement among two or more hospitals and allowed Mountain States Health Alliance to merge with Wellmont Health System in 2018 to create Ballad Health. Residents were almost evenly split with some giving high praise for Ballad after saying they or a family member received good care, while other speakers denounced Ballad’s impact in the region. One person complained directly to the TDH for delaying the meeting for more than a year.