Thanksgiving Update

Nov. 26, 2009

.Giving Thanks: A message from Tony Garr

Nov. 26, 2009. Giving Thanks: A message from Tony Garr

Over the last two days I have been reading stories of Tennesseans who have suffered under our current health care system. I am grateful for each of them and for you because you remind me of why I get out of bed every morning to work on changing our disfunctional health care system.

These stories are from people across the State of Tennesseee.

• Mark from McMinnville is the owner of a small saw mill and employs 35 workers. If he can keep his business open, he wants to continue to provide at least two thirds of the cost of insurance to his employees. He's thankful for his loyal workers.
• Gary from Drummonds recently lost his TennCare even though he has a terminal brain tumor. Cynthia, his partner of 15 years, would like for him to die peacefully with care and without worrying about his bills. Cynthia is thankful for each day that she has with Gary.
• Earl from Dicksoncame close to dying twelve years ago. He developed Hepatitis B from an infected vaccine and it impacted his heart. He got a heart transplant through TennCare. Now he has been cut from TennCare and relies on a drug program for his anti-rejection medications. However, he has many other medical needs that go unmet. Through it all, he is thankful for his family.
• Courtney from Nashville was getting good medical care until an insurance administrator not only denied her an increase in her medication dosage prescribed by her doctor, but also denied the medication entirely! The denial resulted in surgery, a lengthly hospital stay, and 3 months of lost work time. She almost died. She is the mother of a 14-month baby girl. Courtney is thankful for her friends who helped her through this nightmare.

This morning, a friend emailed me the Wall Street Journal story of Nikki from Bristol, who, according to her doctor, died in early 2006 because she was cut from TennCare in the fall of 2005 and lost her medical care. She had lupus. I never met Nikki but I did meet her parents who shared with me how very special she was. Her parents are thankful for every day that Nikki was part of their lives.

Every time I read stories like these above, I know why this struggle for health insurance for every American is important and I know why I ask you for your financial support.

What we have before us in the U.S. House and Senate is the best reform that we can get for now. We still have a long journey ahead of us. We now have the wind at our backs and are at the verge of guaranteeing high-quality, affordable health insurance for 700,000 Tennesseans and 36 million Americans. I urge you to support what we have before us.

These stories are about Mark, Gary, Earl, Courtney, and Nikki, but the stories are also about the work of Tennessee Health Care Campaign volunteers. You will know the last name of several of these volunteers: Andy, Angela, Art, Bambi, Barbara, Bart, Bekah, Belinda, Bob, Brenda, Brian, Chuck, Candis, Carolyn, Chanda, Charlene, Charlotte, Claire, Clare, Dan, Dara, David, Diane, Dick, Don, Donna, Earl, Ed, Ella, Esther, Fran, George, Ginny, Gordon, Greg, Janet, Jarenia, Jerry, Joe, Joe-D, Jennifer, John, Johniene, Judy, Kate, Ken, Kim, Lamont, Lee, Lee Ann, Leo, Libby, Linda, Louise, Larry, Linda, Lori, Louis, Louise, Mabel, Margaret, Marie, Mary Lynn, Mary Thom, Michelle, Mike, Pam, Pat, Patsy, Phil, Phyllis, Randy, Rich, Rikki, Ron, Rosalyn, Sarah, Sharon, Stewart, Shirley, Teresa, Tom, Tony, Trey, Veronica, Virginia, Wib, William, and Zanetta. And there are many others who work endlessly for all of us.

Many Thanks, Tony Garr

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

National Reform Update

Senate gets its bill to the floor for debate

The Senate voted Saturday to begin floor debate on its "Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act" HR3590, but when will the body vote? Nobody's been totally right in predicting the reform timeline; however, our partners on The Hill are reporting that health reform may not reach President Obama's desk until the State of the Union address in February. The Senate is expected to take up to three weeks to debate and vote on its bill. This takes us through to Dec. 18 and into the midst of major holidays, Hanukkah and Christmas. If the Senate passes its bill around this time, the bill joins the House Bill " Affordable Health Care for America Act" HR3962 in Conference Committee, where the two must be merged into one that is sent back to each chamber for final passage. While all of these steps could happen before the new year, it is looking improbable.

Visit the Kaiser Family Foundation Reform Page for an interactive comparison of the House & Senate bills.

Why Reform Will Be Good Economically for Tennessee and its families:

1. Over 300,000 Tennesseans will get guaranteed, high quality coverage through TennCare.
2. Over 350,000 Tennesseans will get affordable coverage through the Excahnge, the organized market place.
3. Each year over $1.5 billion federal dollars will be spent in Tennessee. To get these funds, Tennessee's cost sharing will be less than $150 million.
4. People with private insurance will see their premiums reduced. Over time, cost shifting will be eliminated. Currently, over 10% of the cost for private insurance is caused by cost shifting.
5. Medical debt and bankruptcies will be drastically reduced for both the insured and the uninsured.

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   A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues.
   ~Cicero

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   Keep Those Calls Coming!

• Dial the number to the Capitol Switchboard -- 1-800-828-0498. You will need to call in 3 times. First call and ask for your US Representative, then Sen. Corker, and then Sen. Alexander.
• Call anytime day or night, leave a message if you get voice mail.
• Message: Time for delaying because it is not the perfect bill is over. I want you to make national heath care reform happen this year!
• More messages here and @ our Advocacy Tools section

When I started counting my blessings my life turned around.
~Willie Nelson

State Update

TennCare Oversight Committee Meets - TennCare continues to cut its eligibility roles for adults. Chrildren now account for over 730,000 enrollees, largest number of children ever covered by TennCare. However, the cost to the state for covering its 1.2 million enrollees continues to go down because of budget cuts. While adults are being cut, TennCare has a $400 million reserve.

LOGs Explore Faith & Justice

We have started faith-based initiatives through our local organizing groups in Memphis and Knoxville. Both groups have begun to meet regularly and are planning to have local forums to discuss the role of faith in health care reform and health care justice.

In Memphis, under the leadership of board member Art Sutherland, we have started the "Faith and Health Care Justice Committee." This is a diverse group of clergy and lay leadership represent Catholics, Episcopalians, Methodist, Muslim, Presbyterians, Church of God in Christ, Missionary Baptist, United Church of Christ, and non-denominational. Since September, the group has held regular meetings to discuss health care reform and how to engage congregations. The group is planning an interfaith event to highlight the common morals and values that are at the heart of health care justice. Leaders from the group have met with Bishops of the Catholic Diocese and of the Episcopal Diocese in Memphis to discuss how best to engage all of the Dioceses in Tennessee. Contact Emily for more info @ Emily Fulmer

The Knoxville LOG has formed the Faith & Health Care Justice Committee. They have been meeting regularly since October. About two dozen members of various faith communities around Knoxville attended the first meeting and shared approaches to working for improvement in health care from a faith perspective. Groups represented include: the Knoxville Regional Minority Health Coalition, TN Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Church of the Savior, St. James Episcopal, St. Luke Episcopal, Episcopal Diocese, Roman Catholic Diocese, Knoxville Jewish Alliance, Heska Amuna Synagogue, Fort Sanders Chaplain's Office, Children's Hospital, and Baha'i. Plans are underway to hold a non-denominational service for health reform and to have an event in January near the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Contact Beth for more info @ Beth Uselton

THCC is Thankful for Your Support

We could not do the work that we do without the financial support we receive from you, and we are truly grateful for all gifts great and small. If you believe in the people of THCC and the work that we do, then please consider making a donation to us today.

Choose from 2 easy ways to give today:

1. Use your credit card @ our secure website: http://www.thcc2.org/Donate/home.html
2. By check to the “Tennessee Health Care Campaign” and mail to: THCC, 1103 Chapel Ave., Nashville, TN 37206

Thank you!

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.
~Henry Ward Beecher

THCC Board & Staff wish you & yours a happy Thanksgiving!