Free Republic

Just watched Phil Bredesen at a news conference in Nashville. He announced that begining in January and end in June (July?) of 2005, Tennessee will withdraw from it's TennCare (HillaryCare Lite) Program. Those that qualify, will transition to the Federal medicare (medicaid) programs and about 435,000 low income citizens will no longer receive free medical insurance from the states' taxpayers. Bredesen is so pragmatic and practical, it is hard to believe he is a Demoncrat.

<p>Arthur Caplan at the University of Pennsylvania is America's most famous bioethicist. He's unusually reasonable for that notoriously risk-averse breed. But lately he's been reverting to the rigid presumption of egalitarianism that infests most bioethical musings. Caplan is deeply concerned that in the future the rich will get better medicine and the poor worse—that more resources will allow people to obtain better quality products, an apparently unbearable situation when it comes to health care.</p>

<p>Tennessee cannot afford to keep the TennCare program as it now exists, according to an independent assessment released today by Gov. Phil Bredesen.</p> <p>''This has been a sobering day for me. The news is certainly not good,'' Bredesen said. ''It's very clear that TennCare is not viable in its current configuration.''</p>

Economist says state's fiscal woes not as bad as they seem By AMBER MCDOWELL, Associated Press February 7, 2003 NASHVILLE - Tennessee's fiscal problems aren't as "dire as they seem" compared to other states, despite projected budget shortfalls of more than $800 million for this year and next, economist William Ford said Thursday. Ford, an economist at Middle Tennessee State University, told the Tennessee Press Association that the state's tax system - which includes one of the highest sales taxes in the country - makes Tennessee better off than places like California. "Under Gov. (Gray) Davis, California has a $35...

TennCare's deficit could reach $259 million By The Associated Press February 5, 2003 NASHVILLE - Even if the state drains the $140 million in TennCare reserves this year, Tennessee's health care program for the poor and uninsured would still reach a deficit of $259 million, Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz said Tuesday. Goetz told the Senate Finance Committee that the state already has withheld the second quarterly payment to hospitals that treat most of TennCare's patients rather than further tap TennCare reserves. Those supplemental payments were to total $100 million over the course of the year. He said TennCare's problems result...

Blowing fog away from TennCare By Guest columnist Cyril F. Chang is a professor of economics at the University of Memphis. January 27, 2003 To some Tennesseans, TennCare is a shining example of government fulfilling its duty to ensure needy citizens have access to health care. The program has expanded medical coverage to more than 500,000 previously uninsured and uninsurable Tennesseans, and has improved the quality of care for one-fourth of the residents of this state. To others, TennCare is the source of all sorts of problems. In this view, it is the cause of unmanageable budget deficits and has...

<p>He also said estimated revenue will be $500 million less than needed to fund a similar budget next year — with both shortfalls largely blamed on TennCare overruns.</p> <p>Heads of 21 departments plus the governor's homeland security office won't be able to launch new programs and will be under hiring and travel freezes.</p>

TennCare chief cites cost overrun of $258 million By Paula Wade wade@gomemphis.com January 16, 2003 NASHVILLE - The TennCare program is running $258 million over budget, TennCare Director Manny Martins told lawmakers Wednesday, chiefly because the state overstated the potential cost-savings of last year's TennCare reforms. Martins said that even if the state wins its federal court appeal and can continue to trim TennCare's rolls and reduce the program's health benefits as called for in Gov. Don Sundquist's reforms, state lawmakers still will have to find an estimated $258 million to balance the TennCare budget by July 1. If the...

Both unity, discord face legislature Funding woes still at top of long list By TOM HUMPHREY, tomhumphrey3@aol.com January 12, 2003 NASHVILLE - The 103rd General Assembly dawns this week with legislators indicating unity against new taxes, partisan discord over power positions and unease about the state budget. There are 21 new representatives and five new senators. When inauguration day comes at week's end, there will also be a new governor, Phil Bredesen. But with Democrats holding control in all branches of state government for the first time in eight years, a majority of Republican representatives are poised to make a...

<p>Nearly 200,000 TennCare enrollees who were removed from the program by the state, only to be ordered back in by a federal judge, are out again.</p> <p>A federal appeals court yesterday said the state does not have to return benefits to the ousted enrollees before a hearing on Wednesday.</p>

TennCare culling illegal, judge rules; 150,000 reinstated By Paula Wade wade@gomemphis.com December 20, 2002 NASHVILLE - A federal judge Thursday reinstated TennCare coverage to all 150,000 Tennesseans who've been culled from the troubled health program since July 1. The state's massive TennCare reverification process violates federal law, the judge ruled. Gov. Don Sundquist vowed to appeal, estimating that if upheld, the ruling could cost the state $300 million - money the state doesn't have - and could force the state to abandon TennCare altogether. That course would leave more than 500,000 Tennesseans without health coverage. The ruling means the state...

State Investigating Local Cab Company for Possible TennCare Fraud Wednesday, a mid-state cab company is under investigation for possible TennCare fraud. The charges involved alleged over billing that could amount to tens of thousands of taxpayer money. In Nashville, Metro Health Department operators book rides to and from the doctor for TennCare patients. The operators make the arrangements with local cab companies and then bill TennCare based on the number of miles. Depending on the distance the rides can range from 55 cents to $1.55 per mile for the state. Bart Perkey oversees the program in Metro. He called the...

<p>TennCare will spend about $1.8 billion on prescription drugs this year. But, pharmacists who are suing the state and a TennCare insurance company say the money doesn't always reach the people for whom it is intended.</p> <p>Two pharmacists in tiny Gainesboro, Tenn., a town in the Upper Cumberlands east of Nashville, say they are owed a combined $156,000 by Universal Care of Tennessee. If the California-based insurance company won't pay, they say in a lawsuit, the state should be held responsible because it hired the company to help manage TennCare.</p>

Budget overrun faces TennCare despite cuts Director blames higher drug costs By Paula Wade wade@gomemphis.com August 21, 2002 NASHVILLE - TennCare is likely to overspend its $5.7 billion budget by $256 million this year, even if the state cuts 159,000 people from the program's rolls by Dec. 31 as planned, TennCare Director Manny Martins told legislators Tuesday. Martins said the cost overrun is due mainly to higher-than-expected pharmacy costs, and the fact that federal court orders have entitled TennCare recipients to name-brand drugs their doctors prescribe rather than generic equivalents. Martins said that if his estimates hold true, he will...

TennCare's crash diet puts enrollees at risk Advocates fear for 300,000 in leaner, meaner agency By Paula Wade wade@gomemphis.com August 20, 2002 NASHVILLE - TennCare advocates fear that as many as 300,000 non-Medicaid TennCare enrollees may lose their health coverage in a bureaucratic maze under TennCare's restructuring. So far, the state has notified more than 140,000 TennCare enrollees they will be dropped from TennCare if they don't make an appointment with a local Department of Human Services office to determine their eligibility for the program. They have 90 days to make that appointment or get dropped from the program on...

<p>The state's two leading gubernatorial candidates agreed last night that TennCare eligibility requirements must be tightened, but Republican Van Hilleary and Democrat Phil Bredesen disagreed, sometimes only subtly, about the state's need for more revenue.</p> <p>Hilleary repeated his frequent declaration that he's against imposing a state income tax at any time. Bredesen told the television audience he didn't think the state needs an income tax either, but he wouldn't promise that he'd oppose one over the course of two four-year terms.</p>

Tennessee Freepers I'm asking for help. Not money please {and I really mean that} but letters, E-mail, and phone calls to agencies and officals that run Tenn Care and one of it's HMO's. Some of you who know me know my wife as well as myself are disabled. The issue here is medical care being denied my wife that would be given to others not disabled. Tenn Care about 10 years ago took over our Medicaid system. Most of us remember how it was done and the kaos it has brought upon us. Medicaid was intended for medical coverage to...

TennCare's chief quits with plan in jeopardy By Paula Wade wade@gomemphis.com June 12, 2002 NASHVILLE - TennCare director Mark Reynolds is stepping down, leaving the controversial health program as lawmakers debate to either fund a scaled-down version of TennCare or to abolish it and return to Medicaid. Gov. Don Sundquist's office is expected to announce today that TennCare's original architect, former state Medicaid director Manny Martins, will take over for Reynolds July 1. Martins is an assistant commissioner in the Department of Commerce and Insurance, where he is the chief regulator over TennCare's managed care organizations. Lawmakers are considering budget...

State's cuts could dump 400,000 on hospitals ERs can't be last resort under TennCare changes By Mary Powers powers@gomemphis.com June 7, 2002 The looming changes in TennCare could cost the Mid-South's key health providers millions and patients like Ed Brandon and Jacqueline WynnStitt reliable access to health care and medicine. Brandon, 42, and WynnStitt, 57, both Memphians, are likely among the 400,000 to 500,000 Tennesseans who might lose health coverage when the state's experimental health program is overhauled beginning July 1. These are individuals who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, the state-federal health program for the poorest Americans,...

Feds sign off on overhaul of TennCare By Paula Wade wade@gomemphis.com June 1, 2002 NASHVILLE - Federal officials Friday approved a sweeping rewrite of the state's TennCare program, and now the question is whether the General Assembly will fund the reforms or strip health coverage from as many as 400,000 current TennCare enrollees. Tennessee's new 5-year TennCare waiver will split TennCare into two health plans. TennCare Medicaid will cover Medicaid-eligible enrollees with benefits similar to the existing TennCare program, but the second program, TennCare Standard, is an HMO-style program whose availability will be subject to funding by the Tennessee General...