Senate Committee Considers Reversing TennCare Cuts - Calls Needed
Submitted by Todd Hash on Tue, 05/05/2009 - 8:20pm.
Calls and emails are needed NOW.
Vote is on Wednesday, May 6, 1 PM, by the legislative Senate Government Operations Committee to permanently reduce home nursing services
Message: Ask Senators on the Governor Operations Committee to Support Senator Tim Barnes' amendment to delete the TennCare rules reducing home nursing services.
Families have made huge sacrifices to keep their loved ones at home. Now these new rules are forcing many loved ones into nursing homes. In September, TennCare adopted emergency rules to cut home nursing services before other home based programs were put in place. In addition, as of Jan. 1, 2009, the managed care companies are paid on a capitated rate. These rules are not only not needed, they are not helping hundreds of families keep their loved ones at home. State legislators can reverse these rules and restore home nursing services as there were in September 2008.
Calls and emails are needed now and before Noon on Wednesday, asking member of the Senate Government Operations committee (listed below) to support Senator Tim Barnes' amendment to delete the following TennCare rules that greatly reduce home nursing care:
- Rules 1200-13-16-.01(23) - Definitions; 1200-13-16-.05(4)(d)3. and 4. - Medical Necessity Criteria: These rules are being promulgated to institute certain limits to TennCare coverage of home health services and private duty nursing service for adults in the TennCare program.
- Rules 1200-13-14-.01(52) and (88) - Definitions; 1200-13-14-.04(1)(b)10. and 30., .04(8) - Covered Services; 1200-13-14-.08(5)-Providers: These rules are being promulgated to institute certain limits to TennCare coverage of home health services and private duty nursing services for adults in the TennCare program.
- Rules 1200-13-13-.01(52) and (88) - Definitions; 1200-13-13-.04(1)(b)10. and 30., .04(7) - Covered Services; 1200-13-13-.08(5) - Providers: These rules are being promulgated to institute certain limits to TennCare coverage of home health services and private duty nursing services for adults in the TennCare program.
Senator Jack Johnson, Williamson and part of Davidson Counties, sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, 1-800-449-8366, x12495
Senator Thelma Harper, part of Davidson County, sen.thelma.harper@capitol.tn.gov, 1-800-449-8366, x12453
Senator Ophelia Ford, part of Shelby County, sen.ophelia.ford@capitol.tn.gov, 1-800-449-8366, x11767
Senator Tim Barnes, Cheatham, Houston, and Montgomery Counties, sen.tim.barnes@capitol.tn.gov, 1-800-449-8366, x12374
Senator Dewayne Bunch, Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, and Polk Counties, sen.dewayne.bunch@capitol.tn.gov, 1-800-449-8366, x13730
Senator Rusty Crowe, Washington and Carter Counties, sen.rusty.crowe@capitol.tn.gov, 1-800-449-8366, x12468
Senator Paul Stanley, part of Shelby County, sen.paul.stanley@capitol.tn.gov, 1-800-449-8366, x13036
Senator Reginald Tate, part of Shelby County, sen.reginald.tate@capitol.tn.gov, 1-800-449-8366, x12509
Senator Bo Watson, part of Hamilton County, sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov, 1-800-449-8366, x13227
These rules are not necessary and are harming families?
- These rules are not necessary because as of January 1, the managed care companies (MCCs) are at full financial risk. Meaning, if the MCCs do a bad job of managing health care and the money given them by TennCare, then the MCC loses money and not the state;
- The state needs to delay the implementation of these rules until the implementation of the Long Term Care Community Choices Act.
- TennCare is more interested in guaranteeing profits for the managed care organizations than they are in providing services.
- TennCare has a reserve of $400 million state dollars. If these reserves were used for medical care, it would equal $1.8 billion in state and federal dollars.
- The state is having a revenue short-fall. For the 4th year in a role, the Governor wants to use TennCare cuts to fund other state programs.
