TN General Assembly

In October 2003, at the age of 19, I sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that would change life as I knew it. At the time doctors did not expect me to live and said I would NOT have any quality of life if I did survive. This is where my journey begins, my life after TBI.

In the weeks, months, and years to follow I literally had to re-learn how to walk, talk, read, write, eat and swallow again. Learning your ABC’s at the age of 20 is a little diff erent. Besides God being my main strength, I am very determined and work earnestly every day.

Life at the General Assembly
As the saying goes, “it’s a small world after all.” My mother Connie went to college at MTSU with future Tennessee state senator, Bill Ketron. I first met Senator Ketron at my graduation from the Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation Center’s TBI Program in Smyrna in 2006. I was very impressed that he took time to show support for students with disabilities who were graduating.

It was a huge day for me because this was also a stepping-stone back to college – which everyone had said was impossible. I enrolled at MTSU, and during the next two years I would see Senator Ketron at different events. He approached me once at an MTSU football game and asked, “How would you like to do an internship for me at the State Senate?” I was so touched that he offered me this amazing opportunity. We worked out the details, and I started my internship this past January.

There have been so many advantages to this internship. First of all, observing Senator Ketron in his daily schedule with phone calls and meetings has been the most impressive thing for me. He always conducts himself as a gentleman and is very well respected in his position. He seems to always make time for his interns, and that is so appreciated. It has really opened my eyes to what all is involved at Legislative Plaza (LP).

A few of my job responsibilities include: organizing the different bills that come in, attending various state and local legislative meetings, answering the phone, interacting with other offices, and helping those who show up for appointments. I also get to meet different lobbyists and learn the roles they play. As interns we have unique opportunities to explore such as touring a maximum security prison. Another great advantage is meeting young people my age from across the state. Many of us go to dinner or hang out at the end of our day.

There have been many historical moments since I started that have been really cool to witness, ranging from the presidential inauguration to the Speaker of the House change. I never realized everything that goes on here. It’s a lot of politics and that is what I am learning. Most surprising, I feel like a rookie Senator myself. I didn’t realize I would be able to participate in government issues at this level.

I don’t know where all this will take me next, but it seems that doors always open. After college, my future political goals are to one day serve my community as a lobbyist while working in our family business, Kimbro Oil Company. I feel really blessed to have had this internship experience and will always be thankful.

From where I was in 2003 to now is truly a miracle. “I am a survivor, not a victim.” I walk, talk, do some motivational speaking, drive and live independently. I do not take any of this for granted and live everyday to the fullest. I guess you could say that there is a rainbow after every storm.

By: Brett Martin

This article is featured in the latest Coalition Quarterly, available in PDF and MS Word formats.

 

 

 

 

A revitalized and expanded Autism Equity Act is under attack from the health insurance industry and TennCare so your help is desperately needed.

If your legislator is on one of the committees below, then please give him or her a call, maybe send a letter or email and ask them to support, maybe even sponsor, new legislation that will significantly improve coverage, especially for behavioral therapies.  

At the end of this post we have additional talking points. 

Charles Curtiss - District 43 - White and parts of Putnam & Warren Counties

Phone: (615) 741-1963, Email: rep.charles.curtiss@capitol.tn.gov

Dennis Roach - District 35 - Claiborne, Grainger, and part of Jefferson County

Phone: (615) 741-2534, Email: rep.dennis.roach@capitol.tn.gov

Joanne Favors - District 29 - part of Hamilton County

Phone: (615) 741-2702, Email: rep.joanne.favors@capitol.tn.gov

Dennis Ferguson - Dristrict 32 - Roane and part of Loundon County

Phone: (615) 741-7658, Email: rep.dennis.ferguson@capitol.tn.gov

Jon Lundberg - District 1 - part of Sullivan County

Phone: (615) 741-7623, Email: rep.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov

Joe McCord - District 8 - parts of Blount and Sevier Counties

Phone: (615) 741-5481, Email: rep.joe.mccord@capitol.tn.gov

Gerald McCormick - District 26 - part of Hamilton County

Phone: (615) 741-2548, Email: rep.gerald.mccormick@capitol.tn.gov

Jimmy Naifeh - District 81 - Haywood and part of Tipton County

Phone: (615) 741-3774, Email: spk.eme.jimmy.naifeh@capitol.tn.gov

Charles Sargent - District 61 - part of Williamson County

Phone: (615) 741-6808, Email: rep.charles.sargent@capitol.tn.gov

David Shepard (Sponsor) - District 69 - Dickson and part of Hickman County - Please Thank David!

Phone: (615) 741-3513 - Email: rep.david.shepard@capitol.tn.gov

Curry Todd (sponsor) - District 95 - Part of Shelby County - Please Thank Curry!

Phone: (615) 741-1866, Email: rep.curry.todd@capitol.tn.gov

Joe Towns, Jr - District 84 - Part of Shelby County

Phone: (615) 741-2189, Email: rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov

 

 

Remainder of House Commerce Committee

 

Beth Harwell - District 56 - part of Davidson County

Phone: (615) 741-0709, Email: rep.beth.harwell@capitol.tn.gov

Steve McManus - District 96 - part of Shelby County

Phone: (615) 741-1920, Email: rep.steve.mcmanus@capitol.tn.gov

Joe Carr - District 48 - part of Rutherford County

Phone: (615) 741-2180, Email: rep.joe.carr@capitol.tn.gov

Glenn Casada - District 61 - part of Williamson County

Phone: (615) 741-4389, Email: rep.glen.casada@capitol.tn.gov

Curt Cobb - District 62 - Bedford and parts of Lincoln and Rutherford Counties

Phone: (615) 741-6824, Email: rep.curt.cobb@capitol.tn.gov

Craig Fitzhugh - District 82 - Lauderdale, Crockett, and part of Dyer County

Phone: (615) 741-2134, Email: rep.craig.fitzhugh@capitol.tn.gov

Brenda Gilmore - District 54 - Part of Davidson County

Phone: (615) 741-1997, Email: rep.brenda.gilmore@capitol.tn.gov

Jim Hackworth - District 33 - part of Anderson County

Phone: (615) 741-4400, Email: rep.jim.hackworth@capitol.tn.gov

Bill Harmon - District 37 - Sequatchie, Van Buren, Grundy, and Marion Counties

Phone: (615) 741-6849, Email: rep.bill.harmon@capitol.tn.gov

Curtis Johnson - District 68 - part of Montgomery County

Phone: (615) 741-4341, Email: rep.curtis.johnson@capitol.tn.gov

Phillip Johnson - District 78 - Cheatham and parts of Montgomery and Williamson Counties

Phone: (615) 741-7477, Email: rep.phillip.johnson@capitol.tn.gov

Susan Lynn - District 57 - Part of Sumner and Wilson Counties

Phone: (615) 741-7462, Email: rep.susan.lynn@capitol.tn.gov

Jimmy Matlock - District 21 - parts of Loudon and Monroe Counties

Phone: (615) 741-3736, Email: rep.jimmy.matlock@capitol.tn.gov

Richard Montgomery - District 12 - part of Sevier County

Phone: (615) 741-5981, Email: rep.richard.montgomery@capitol.tn.gov

Joe Pitts - District 67 - Montgomery County

Phone: (615) 741-2043, Email: rep.joe.pitts@capitol.tn.gov

Mike Stewart - District 52 - part of Davidson County

Phone: (615) 741-2184, Email: rep.mike.stewart@capitol.tn.gov

Larry Turner - District 85 - part of Shelby County

Phone: (615) 741-6954, Email: rep.larry.turner@capitol.tn.gov

Eddie Yokley - District 11 - Cocke and part of Greene County

Phone: (615) 741-6871, Email: rep.eddie.yokley@capitol.tn.gov

Senate Commerce

Paul Stanley (Sponsor) -  District 31 - Part of Shelby County - Please Thank Paul!

Phone: (615) 741-3036, Email: sen.paul.stanley@capitol.tn.gov

Dewayne Bunch - District 9 - Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, and Polk Counties

Phone: (615) 741-70, Email:  sen.dewayne.bunch@capitol.tn.gov

Charlotte Burks - District 15 - Cumberland, Jackson, Overton, Pickett, Putnam & White Counties

Phone: (615) 741-3978, Email:  sen.charlotte.burks@capitol.tn.gov

Mae Beavers - District 17 - Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, Wilson and part of Sumner County.

Phone: (615) 741-2421, Email: sen.mae.beavers@capitol.tn.gov

Tim Burchett - District 7 - Part of Knox County

Phone: (615) 741-1766, Email:  sen.tim.burchett@capitol.tn.gov

Jack Johnson - District 23 - Williamson and part of Davidson County

Phone: (615) 741-2495, Email:  sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov

Bill Ketron (Sponsor) - District 13 - Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, and part of Rutherford County. - Please thank Ketron.

Phone: (615) 741-6853, Email:  sen.bill.ketron@capitol.tn.gov

Eric Stewart - District 14 - Franklin, Bledsoe, Coffee, Grundy, Sequatchie, Van Buren and Warren Counties.

Phone: (615) 741-6694, Email:  sen.eric.stewart@capitol.tn.gov

Reginald Tate - District 33 - Part of Shelby County

Phone: (615) 741-2509, Email:  sen.reginald.tate@capitol.tn.gov

TALKING POINTS 

History

In 2006 the Tennessee General Assembly took unanimous, bipartisan, and proactive stand to address the needs of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by passing the Autism Equity Act (AEA).  The legislation was a first step to tearing down barriers that prevent children with an ASD from receiving needed therapies.

Looking to the Future

Now that parents, providers, and health insurers in Tennessee have had a couple of years to begin breaking down the barriers to coverage, it is time to take the next step.  New legislation has been introduced that will build on the AEA by ensuring that children and adolescents receive therapeutic levels of care.

The New Legislation - What it should do

• Age for Coverage - Previously coverage was limited to age 11, but new legislation should increase the age for coverage.

• Clarifies the Types of Therapies - Make explicit the variety of therapies that a child with an ASD may need such as speech/language, occupational, and behavioral therapies, including Applied Behavioral Analysis and others.

• Therapeutic Levels of Coverage - Ensures that health care plans provide not only access to therapies, but also to therapeutic levels of proven, evidence-based care necessary to make meaningful improvements in long-term functioning.

Benefits of Coverage

Preserving the Family - Raising a child with an ASD can be emotionally, financially, and socially challenging for families.  Many families go deeply in debt to pay for necessary health care therapies while many more children simply go without the benefit of proven, research-based therapies that can be life changing.

Treatment Today or Dependency Tomorrow - The key to minimizing the long-term impact of an ASD is early treatment through a variety of therapies tailored to the needs of the individual child.  Providing therapeutic levels of coverage early in life is the key to improving a child's ability to participate in the world around them while becoming independent and self-sufficient.

 

 

 

 

 

History

In 2006 the Tennessee General Assembly took unanimous, bipartisan, and proactive stand to address the needs of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by passing the Autism Equity Act (AEA).  The legislation was a first step to tearing down barriers that prevent children with an ASD from receiving needed therapies.

Looking to the Future

Now that parents, providers, and health insurers in Tennessee have had a couple of years to begin breaking down the barriers to coverage, it is time to take the next step.  New legislation has been introduced that will build on the AEA by ensuring that children and adolescents receive therapeutic levels of care.

The New Legislation - What does it do?

• Age for Coverage - Previously coverage was limited to age 11, but it will rise to age 17 to ensure all children and adolescents have access to therapies.

• Clarifies the Types of Therapies - Makes explicit the variety of therapies that a child with an ASD may need such as speech/language, occupational, and behavioral therapies, including Applied Behavioral Analysis and others.

• Therapeutic Levels of Coverage - Ensures that health care plans provide not only access to therapies, but also to therapeutic levels of proven, evidence-based care necessary to make meaningful improvements in long-term functioning.

Benefits of Coverage

Preserving the Family - Raising a child with an ASD can be emotionally, financially, and socially challenging for families.  Many families go deeply in debt to pay for necessary health care therapies while many more children simply go without the benefit of proven, research-based therapies that can be life changing.

Treatment Today or Dependency Tomorrow - The key to minimizing the long-term impact of an ASD is early treatment through a variety of therapies tailored to the needs of the individual child.  Providing therapeutic levels of coverage early in life is the key to improving a child's ability to participate in the world around them while becoming independent and self-sufficient.

For a flyer about the legislation in PDF 

For a flyer about the legislation in MS Word

To read the latest draft of the legislation - as of April 7th in PDF

To read the latest draft of the legislation - as of April 7th in MS Word

 

The Open Doors Home Health Care Act will face a critical vote, perhaps next week, in the House Professional Occupations Subcommitee.

If you have a legislator on this committee, then please take a few minutes to contact them and ask for their support.  If they are a sponsor, then please thank them.  A list of committee members and their contact information is below.

What is the Open Doors Home Health Care Act?

In 2008 new TennCare rules went into effect that essentially closed the door to the community and world for many people with disabilities. The rules, in most cases, prevent certain home health care providers from accompanying people with disabilities to:  

Doctor appointments

School and other educational endeavors

Church

Employment, and other normal activities of daily living that most take for granted 

 

This year the Coalition has introduced legislation to return flexbility to home health care provided through TennCare.  The legislation is known as the Open Doors Home Health Care Act.  It is sponsored by Senator Diane Black (Senate Bill 851) and Representative David Shepard (House Bill 1114).  We hope you will reach out to your legislators and ask them to support the legislation.

Re-opening doors to a world of possibilities

Background

In 2008, TennCare enacted new rules that generally forbid home health aides and private duty nurses from leaving an individual’s home or apartment while providing services to that person.  These new rules prevented home health care providers from accompanying their clients to church, classes, work, community activities, or even a doctor’s appointment.

As a result, many individuals who were previously active in the community suddenly found themselves essentially confined to the four walls of their home or apartment if they could not go out alone due to a health condition or did not have other supports.  It effectively isolated people from the world around them.

The Legislation

This simple 1-page bill will turn back the clock by removing the 2008 TennCare restrictions on home health care and re-opening doors to the community.  The legislation specifically states that home health care services can accompany individuals into the community for routine activities of daily living such as:

• Outpatient medical appointments
• School and other educational functions
• Employment and volunteer opportunities
• Church and other religious services 

The legislation does not require home health care providers to provide transportation, nor does it require new services.  It only requires that people be allowed to leave their homes and to do so with supports so that they can enjoy the world of opportunities available in the community.

Spirit of Long-Term Care Reform – This legislation is firmly in line with the intent of last year’s Long-Term Care Community Choices Act which sought to provide services in the home and community so that Tennesseans would not become dependant upon more expensive institutional care.

Flyers about the bill are below: