TN Rep. David Hawk calls for Ballad CEO to resign

Nearly month after a heated exchange between Ballad Health CEO Alan Levine at a crowded event in Kingsport now has State Rep. David Hawk calling for Levine’s resignation. Hawk cited that incident as well as what he called “anecdotal stories for years” of Levine bullying healthcare professionals, employees and others. Hawk wrote to Ballad board member and ETSU President Brian Noland on Feb. 29 as a follow up to a Feb 7 meeting he had with Noland, five days after the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce event. Hawk wrote that Levine approached him and complained about recent comments Hawk had made to local media organizations about Ballad Health. He said the discussion was heated, and at some point Levine placed his hands on Hawk’s shoulders. Levine denied that, and others who witnessed the event have varying accounts of the incident. This come as Tennessee’s Terms of Certification for healthcare will undergo some preset changes soon.