FEDERAL COURT DECISION ALLOWS TENNESSEE GOVERNOR TO IMPLEMENT HISTORIC HEALTH CUTS

The Proposed TennCare Changes Are the Largest Public Health Cutbacks in Nation’s History and Will Cause Many to Lose Their Lives

On April 12, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit decided that Governor Phil Bredesen (D-TN) has the legal authority to implement massive cutbacks in the TennCare public health program. The following is the statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA the national consumer health group that recently helped to organize the 10-day "Drive to Save Lives" throughout Tennessee about yesterday's ruling:

"Governor Bredesen's proposed health care changes constitute the largest public health program cutback in our nation's history.

"Yesterday's court ruling is therefore a huge step backwards for the State of Tennessee. If the Governor's proposed TennCare cuts are implemented, the State will move from being a leader in public health coverage to the State that took the biggest step backwards.

"The Governor's plan to terminate health coverage for 323,000 low-income people and to significantly reduce health services for an additional 396,000 TennCare enrollees will inevitably cause many Tennesseans especially those with major health problems and disabilities to die.

"Most of the 323,000 who will lose health coverage will join the ranks of the uninsured.  Among those losing health coverage are 97,000 people who have already experienced catastrophic health problems that caused them to accumulate medical bills that far exceed their ability to pay. An additional 67,000 people are 'uninsurable' because their medical conditions make it impossible for them to obtain private health coverage.

"The Governor's proposal will not only cause huge and irreparable damage to people in Tennessee, but it may create a very dangerous precedent for other states. It is critically important, therefore, that this proposal is reconsidered before it is implemented."

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1100 · Washington, DC 20005
202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org