THCC in the News

December 16, 2011 - Nashv ille, TN, Public News Service (CCSC) - Tennessee's Mental Health: Threatened by Proposed Cuts? Tennessee lawmakers have cut more than $16 million from the state mental health budget in the last three years. Advocates of those programs say that has left many families without critical services - and they fear that additional cuts proposed for the coming year will mean the loss of even more programs. more...

December 15, 2011 - Nashville, TN (WSMV-TV) - Tennessee has some big decisions to make shen it comes to health care reform...the lieutenant governor says he doesn't want to make a decision until he knows for sure what the U.S. Supreme Court has to say about the health care law..."Any delays by the state legislature is going to cause some speed bumps and unnecessary delays, and we don't need that right now," said Tony Garr, with the Tennessee Health Care Campaign. more

December 13, 2011 - Nashville, TN, Public News Service (CCSC) - HIV Report: An Epidemic Waiting to Happen in TN? Tennessee is facing a possible HIV epidemic, according to new research from Duke University and the Southern HIV-AIDS Strategy Initiative. The report finds that 35 percent of newly-reported HIV infections came from eight southern states in 2009, the most recent year for which figures are available. Proposed budget cuts already threaten HIV prevention and treatment programs, and Joseph Interrante, CEO of the HIV/AIDS service organization Nashville Cares, says these would have a devastating public health impact. more...

December 13, 2011 -eTNHealthinsurance.com - Will More Tennessee Health Insurance Access Lead to Delayed Treatment? Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee predicts that almost 700,000 state residents will get new coverage under the health care reform. Not everyone sees this as a problem. Tony Garr, the policy director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, says there would be market forces to push the system to provide a higher quality of care and more primary care. more...

December 5, 2011 - GoArticles.com - Will More Tennessee Health Insurance Access Lead to Delayed Treatment? by Willey Long. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee predicts that almost 700,000 state residents will get new coverage under the health care reform. Not everyone sees this as a problem. Tony Garr, the policy director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, says there would be market forces to push the system to provide a higher quality of care and more primary care. more...

December 2, 2011 - Nashville, TN, Public News Service (CCSC) - Critical Time Approaching for Tennesseans with Disabilities - The threat of losing federal funding has parents of children who are intellectually- and developmentally-challenged (IDD) fearful that further cuts will threaten what little support they now have. Tennessee lawmakers have cut more than $47 million from IDD programs this year, and additional cuts will be on the table when the new legislative session begins in January. more...

November 29, 2011 - TNReport - Despite a Bad Economy, Tennessee Continues to Provide Health Insurance to Children at a Rate Higher than the National Average. “The progress on children’s health insurance is due to the success of TennCare and CoverKids, which have continued to fill the void created by a decline in employer-based health insurance, high unemployment, and the increasing cost of private health insurance,” said Tony Garr, Policy Director for the Tennessee Health Care Campaign. more...

November 29, 2011 - Media Release - Despite a Bad Economy, Tennessee Continues to Provide Health Insurance to Children at a Rate Higher than the National Average. “The progress on children’s health insurance is due to the success of TennCare and CoverKids, which have continued to fill the void created by a decline in employer-based health insurance, high unemployment, and the increasing cost of private health insurance,” said Tony Garr, Policy Director for the Tennessee Health Care Campaign. more... For a copy of the report, click here.

November 28, 2011 - AP - Haslem: 'Firm hope" to avoid 5 pct TennCare cut. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - TennCare officials on Monday again proposed eliminating counseling services to hospice patients and their families if the state's expanded Medicaid has to reduce spending by 5 percent, though Gov. Bill Haslam stressed that it's his "firm hope" that the deepest cuts can be avoided.... TennCare advocate Tony Garr of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign said he's hopeful that further cuts can be avoided. "We all hope that we don't have to do that and that we don't have to make those decisions," he said. "The fact of the matter is that the state of Tennessee is very reliant on federal funds, and if we don't have the state funds to pull it down it hurts everybody." more...

November 25, 2011 - Nashville, TN, Public News Service (CCSC) - Tennesseans with Mental Illness at Risk of Losing Services - Tennessee Department of Mental Health budget cuts are leaving those who have mental health conditions without adequate care. That's the view of experts who say the widening criteria of TennCare, along with budget reductions, are forcing many patients into emergency rooms and driving up overall costs to Tennesseans. more...

November 21, 2011 - AP & Channel 5, Nashville - Supercommittee Has Failed To Reach Deal - WASHINGTON (AP/NewsChannel5) - The bipartisan leadership of a special congressional deficit supercommittee has officially announced that the panel has failed to reach an agreement.... Local health care advocates said any cuts to Medicare could impact how much hospitals, and doctors who treat Medicare patients are reimbursed from the feds. Advocates said that could force hospitals to cut services, or doctors to stop treating Medicare patients. more...

November 19, 2011 - Commercial Appeal - Tennessee pushes ahead with mandated health-insurance exchange - No matter what happens before October 2013, when states' health insurance exchanges are mandated to be open for business, Tennessee will be ready, said the state's exchange leader. Brian Haile, director of Tennessee's Insurance Exchange Planning Initiative, said the state will continue to ready its health-reform-mandated exchange, despite court challenges against them from the governors of Virginia and Florida. more...

November 16, 2011 - Citizen Herald - Business owners, insurance agents discuss health care exchange - Beth Uselton, executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, speaks as to how health care changes will affect consumers while, from left, Paul Korth, CFO of Cookeville Regional Medical Center; Steve Copeland Jr., owner of Cumberland Insurance Agency; and Marie Ferran, facilitator of the event, look on. Herald-Citizen Photo/Megan Trotter. more...

November 11, 2011 - Live Insurance News - Tennessee insurance representatives and business owners meet to discuss the health insurance market. Professionals representing the Tennessee health insurance industry gathered in Hendersonville, Tennessee, this week to meet with business owners and state officials to discuss the current state of the insurance market and what effects a health insurance exchange would have on it. (This event was planned by THCC). more...

November 11, 2011 - Memphis Business Journal - Business prefers state-run plan - Though much is uncertain about the future of federally mandated insurance exchanges, Tennessee business and industry have made it abundantly clear that if it happens, they prefer a state-operated program over one run out of Washington, D.C. more...

November 10, 2011 - Cumberland Business Journal - State leaning toward running own health insurance exchange - Cookeville – Whether or not Tennessee will run its own health insurance exchange in 2014 is a question that’s yet to be determined, but state officials are currently looking for citizen input in order to help make that decision. ....Approximately 350,000 small business employees will participate in the exchange, whether it’s run by the state government or not. And the number of enrollees in TennCare, the state’s Medicaid program, will also likely increase. Another panelist at the forum, Beth Uselton, executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that advocates for affordable health care, said 300,000-350,000 additional citizens could become eligible for TennCare as eligibility changes. more...

November 10, 2011 - The Daily Times - UT Research Center to host forum about online insurance marketplace - KNOXVILLE — As part of the new health care reform act passed by Congress last year, all states including Tennessee will soon be required to create “health insurance exchanges,” which are online websites where individuals and small businesses can compare and buy health insurance.... The event’s planning partners include Cherokee Health Systems, Health Care 21, Knoxville Association of Health Underwriters, Knoxville Chamber, Knox County Health Department, Summit Medical Group, Tennessee Health Care Campaign and the UT College of Law. more...

November 9, 2011 - The Tennessean - Health forum addresses insurance concerns - Local business owners and citizens gathered at LifeChurch in Hendersonville Monday night to hear from several business professionals and a state official at a community forum concerning Tennessee’s new health insurance marketplace. (THCC organized this event). more...

November 9, 2011 - Channel 5 News, Nashville - Tennessee's Big Health Care Decision - NASHVILLE, Tenn. - For many Tennesseans health insurance will undergo a significant change in 2014 due to federal reforms. A number of major decisions about health insurance at the state level still have to be made. State officials have asked Tennesseans to share their opinions about the options. Governor Haslam and state lawmakers have to decide if the state will handle health care reform or if they will leave it up to the federal government to create what is being called a Health Insurance Exchange. more...

November 9, 2011 - The University of Tennessee Knoxville - Public Forum about Online Insurance Marketplace - KNOXVILLE—As part of the new health care reform act passed by Congress last year, all states including Tennessee will soon be required to create “health insurance exchanges,” which are online websites where individuals and small businesses can compare and buy health insurance. more...

November 8, 2011 - Channel 4 (WSMV), Nashville - Health care exchange plan faces criticism in TN
There's a brand new controversy brewing in Tennessee over the president's health care reform law. Under the law, the state has until the end of the year to set up its own health care exchange to help the uninsured get coverage. But lawmakers are now vowing to fight it....It could impact 700,000 uninsured Tennesseans. "It addresses a lot of the problems we see right now in the small group market where it's too expensive, it's too confusing or people are shut out because of pre-existing conditions," said Beth Uselton, with the Tennessee Healthcare Campaign. more...

November 5, 2011 - Tennessean - Meetings set on state insurance exchange - People who want to know more about a proposed state insurance exchange for buying health coverage can attend meetings next week in Hendersonville and Nashville. more...

October 26, 2011 - Nashville Public Radio (WPLN) - Unknowns Cloud Choice on New Insurance Exchange - Tennessee is treading slowly on the decision of whether to set up a state insurance exchange. The federal healthcare overhaul requires states to provide a system for comparing insurance policies and benefits, or let Washington do it. Tennessee’s decision is complicated.... more...

October 26, 2010 - Nashville Public Radio(WPLN) - Health Interests Prefer State-Run Insurance Exchange - If the national law requiring health insurance holds up, Tennessee stakeholders say they’d prefer a state-run exchange over a federal one. The insurance exchange would be a government-run store where small businesses and individuals could compare costs and benefits from different coverage plans. more...

October 4, 2011 - Channel 5 News (CBS Affiliate in Nashville) - Possible Cuts to Medicare Could Affect Tennessee - President Obama's American Jobs Act is designed to grow the economy and cut the deficit. Cuts will come from Medicare, which means some doctors may not be able to afford to see patients covered by the program. more . . .

October 2, 2011 - Knoxville News Sentinel - Unemployed face few insurance options - Private insurance premiums for families rose nine percent this year, according to a report released last week. For families trying to survive on unemployment checks, food stamps or part-time, low-pay work, affording private insurance becomes next to impossible. .... There aren't many realistic options for people who are unemployed or underemployed, said Beth Uselton, executive director for Tennessee Health Care Campaign. "There are many, many people that just have zero insurance options if they are unemployed," Uselton said. more...

September 28, 2011 - Live Insurance News - Tennessee advocacy groups seek to raise awareness of coming health
insurance exchanges - The full breadth of last year’s health care reform will come into effect beginning in 2014. Many states have yet to take the appropriate steps to conform to new health care regulation set up by the federal government and residents of states are still suffering from a lack of knowledge regarding the coming changes. Tennessee officials have been laboring to teach citizens about health care reform by showing them how the changes will affect their lives. While many in the state may disapprove of the federal reform, Tennessee officials have made it clear that change cannot be avoided this time. This is the message that was given during an information session this week hosted by Beth Uselton, executive direct of Tennessee Health Care Campaign, a consumer advocacy group. more...

September 27, 2011 - Knoxville News Sentinel - Forum in Clinton addresses 2014 health insurance exchanges. CLINTON — Health care reform is coming by 2014, whether Tennessee's ready or not.
That was the message at a lunchtime information session Tuesday at Junior Achievement of East Tennessee in Clinton. The talk was given by Beth Uselton, executive director of Tennessee Health Care Campaign, a patient advocacy group, and Cliff Horne, an employee benefits broker at Wyatt Insurance Services in Knoxville. more...

September 23, 2011 - The Tennessean - Patients to wait longer for care under new health law, think tank says - Nearly 700,000 Tennesseans will gain new coverage under health-care reform, but those already with insurance might have to wait longer to receive care and younger people overall may have to pay more. more . . .

September 14, 2011 - The Tennessean - Advocates: TennCare call-in process for aid program isn't fair. Tony Garr, policy director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, who called in for a client, said he got a recording at 6:29 p.m. saying the call-in period had closed. Subsequent messages said all circuits were busy. He kept trying until he got the client signed up at 7:17 p.m., minutes before the limit was reached. more...

September 12, 2011 - The Tennesseans - TennCare call-in line expects flood of calls seeking help with medical bills - Tony Garr, deputy director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, said the state can set up a better way of administering the program. “What they need to do is keep it open all the time until they reach the 7,000; then they can put people on a waiting list,” Garr said. “That would be a much better way.” more...

September 12, 2011 - Channel 5 News (CBS Affiliate in Nashville) - TennCare Opening Enrollment for 2,500 Applications - TennCare is opening limited enrollment Monday night for the Standard Spend Down program. The program helps low income Tennesseans pay for medical bills. more . . .

September 9, 2011 - TN Tribune - Tennessee Health Care Campaign Anticipates Budget Scare - The Tennessee Health Care Campaign issued a press release on July 11, 2011 to alert Tennesseans about the negotiations of possible federal budget cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. more...

September 8, 2011 - The Tennessean - TN Doctors have deep ties to drugmakers - Beth Uselton, executive director of patient advocate group Tennessee Health Care Campaign, said the disclosures by the drug companies are a key step toward transparency and a more efficient, fair and cost-effective health-care system. more...

August 31, 2011 - The Republic - Haslam not ready to say how Tenn. would respond if deep federal cuts become reality - VONORE, Tenn. — Republican Gov. Bill Haslam isn't ready to say how Tennessee would respond if the deep cuts to the state's share of federal funding become a reality..... Tony Garr, policy director for Tennessee Health Care Campaign, called on federal and state officials to try to find other solutions the budget problems. "Cuts of this magnitude will force family members who are currently in nursing homes to be put out on the sidewalk, for hospitals in rural Tennessee to close their doors," he said. more ....

August 31, 2011 - The Republic- TennCare, the state's expanded Medicaid program, would cut more than $2.2 billion under the larger reduction scenario, while the Department of Human Services would lose $861 million.Tony Garr, policy director for Tennessee Health Care Campaign, called on federal and state officials to try to find other solutions the budget problems. "Cuts of this magnitude will force family members who are currently in nursing homes to be put out on the sidewalk, for hospitals in rural Tennessee to close their doors," he said. more...

August 31, 2011 - Channel 5 News (CBS Affiliate in Nashville) - TennCare Spend Down Program not Filled to Capacity - NASHVILLE, Tenn.- As TennCare announces another opportunity to get enrolled in the Standard Spend Down program, questions are being raised. The program was designed to help 7,000 people, but so far it has only helped hundreds even though the program is nearly a year old. ... Jeannie plans on calling the toll free number to TennCare's hotline on September 12th. It's a way for her to apply for their Standard Spend Down program, a Medicaid program designed to help 7,000 low-income Tennesseans with mounting medical bills. But Tony Garr, with the Tennessee Health Care Campaign says it's not covering anywhere near 7,000 people. Garr's group is a sort of watchdog organization for health care issues. more...

August 31, 2011, Channel 5 News (CBS Affiliate in Nashville) - Jeannie plans on calling the toll free number to TennCare's hotline on September 12th. It's a way for her to apply for their Standard Spend Down program, a Medicaid program designed to help 7,000 low-income Tennesseans with mounting medical bills. But Tony Garr, with the Tennessee Health Care Campaign says it's not covering anywhere near 7,000 people. Garr's group is a sort of watchdog organization for health care issues. more...

August 26, 2011 - Ezine Articles - Tennessee Health Insurance Costs Come Down For Those With Pre-Existing Conditions - While it is true that people suffering from pre-existing medical conditions are having a hard time getting Tennessee health insurance due to the underwriting policies of insurance companies, Tennesseans who have pre-existing conditions got a break last July 1. With the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) finally kicking in, these people are getting access to more affordable TN health insurance options.... According to the Tennessee Health Care Campaign policy director, Tony Garr, PCIP will definitely lower the cost of coverage for these people. Garr says that enrolling in the Federal High Risk Pool is easier now, but people still must have been unable to get health coverage for at least 6 months. more...
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6521913

August 26, 2011 -Oakridge, TN - Judy Roitman will discuss the mission of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign when the Anderson County Democratic Women's Club meets at 6 p.m. Monday. more...

August 22, 2011 - Public News Service - TN Business Journal Recognizes Healthcare Leaders - Business journals across the state of Tennessee are honoring Health Care Heroes this month. Tony Garr, founding director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, and Gordon Bonnyman, co-founder of the Tennessee Justice Center, received Lifetime Achievement Awards for their years of service to low-income and disabled Tennesseans. more . . .

July 28, 2011 - TN Tribune - Tennessee Health Care Campaign anticipates budget scare - “Federal cuts of the magnitude being proposed will have a ripple effect throughout our health care system. That is why we are standing together,” said Beth Uselton, executive director of THCC. Brad Palmertree, the statewide and online organizer for THCC, was shocked when he heard the news. “This would affect a lot of people,” he told the Tennessee Tribune. “It isn’t a direct impact on people just receiving these services, but it’s also a larger residual economic issue that we’re facing.” more...

July 27, 2011 - Benzinga.com - Coalition To Control Spending With Care Weighs In On Federal Budget Debate: Launches Statewide Awareness Effort to Encourage Sensible Fiscal Policy
“We must rein in federal spending, however, simply cutting without considering the repercussions is a bit like throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” said Tony Garr, policy director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign. “In our urgency, we have to consider the human cost to our most vulnerable citizens and those who care for them.” more ...

June 27, 2011 - Public News Service - NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Help On the Way for Those in TN with Pre-Existing Conditions - Tennesseans who have pre-existing medical conditions and no insurance will be getting a break come July 1..Garr says the changes make it much easier to apply to the Federal High Risk Pool, PCIP. "Before, it required an insurance company to give you a denial letter. Now you can actually just get your doctor to verify that you have this medical condition.".more ...

June 26, 2011 - The Tullahoma News and Guardian - Revised plan offers options to uninsured Tennesseans - Many sick Tennesseans who have been without health insurance for at least six months can seek assistance from the Tennessee Health Care Campaign (THCC).... “The PCIP has been there, but we wanted more people to benefit from it,” said Beth Uselton, THCC executive director. more ...

June 12, 2011 - Tennessean - Follow-up: Funding restored to perinatal program - WHAT HAPPENED: The Tennessee Perinatal Care System, a program that works to reduce infant deaths and birth complications, got its funding cut in Gov. Bill Haslam’s initial proposed budget, but then restored. more ...

June 9, 2011 - News Channel 5 - Health care conference Saturday in Nashville
Associated Press - June 9, 2011 4:15 AM ET
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The annual conference of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign is Saturday at Meharry Medical College in Nashville.The conference will focus on the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Anton Gunn, regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will be among the speakers. Brian Hale of the Tennessee Exchange Planning Initiative will discuss setting up an insurance exchange. more ...

June 9, 2011 - WHNT News 19, Huntsville, AL - Annual conference of Tennessee Health Care Campaign is Saturday in Nashville.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The annual conference of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign is Saturday at Meharry Medical College in Nashville.The conference will focus on the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Anton Gunn, regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will be among the speakers. Brian Hale of the Tennessee Exchange Planning Initiative will discuss setting up an insurance exchange. more...

June 9, 2011 - The Tennessee Tribune - Tennesseans Look Forward to Affordable Comprehensive Insurance in July - Beginning on July 1, 2011, The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan will make comprehensive insurance more affordable for Tennesseans with pre-existing medical conditions. The new changes were announced last week in a press release from The Tennessee Health Care Campaign. more . . .

May 26, 2011 - Tennessean - Blackburn pushes interstate health insurance bill - Critics say measure would make it hard to regulate insurer: WASHINGTON — The theory is pretty simple: If people could shop for health insurance in states across the country, they would end up finding a plan that better fits their needs, the competition would drive down premiums, and more people would be able to afford coverage......Beth Uselton, executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, said her group fears interstate sale of health insurance would create a “race to the bottom” in which insurers would look to do business in the states with the least oversight and the fewest mandates on coverage. Officials of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee said the company favors keeping control of insurance within Tennessee.. More...

May 26, 2011 - News Channel 5 - Some Celebrate: Others Criticize Year Old Health Care Reform - …limits on coverage to people with chronic conditions or catastrophic illnesses, they will no longer run out," said Beth Uselton with THCC. But Republicans are critical of the year old health care overhaul. In the weekly Republican radio …more ...

May 18, 2011 - Tennessean - TN funding on reducing infant deaths, birth complications is at risk
A statewide program that has quietly worked behind the scenes for decades to reduce infant deaths and birth complications is about to lose more than half its funding. .....The Tennessee Health Care Campaign, a consumer advocacy group, is calling on the state to fund the program from TennCare reserve funds. Tony Garr, policy director for the organization, said the state will wind up spending more by scrimping on the perinatal program. “Sometimes those babies cost us $1 million,” Garr said. “From our perspective, this is really a preventive thing. This ultimately saves us money.” more ....

May 16, 2011 - Knoxville News Sentinel - Haslam Files Budget Amendment With More Spending - News release from governor's office:
NASHVILLE - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has filed an amendment with the General Assembly that adjusts next year's budget proposal to reflect new estimates on increased state revenues. The supplemental appropriations amendment (SB2090/HB2139) includes funding that was not included in the budget the governor presented in March, which was based on earlier revenue projections. more ...

May 15, 2011 - Chattanooga Times Free Press/Tennessean - BlueCross doubles CEO, directors pay over last 5 years
CHATTANOOGA — BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee doubled what it pays its directors and chief executive officer in the past five years, boosting the salary for part-time board Chairman Lamar Partridge to $100,000 and raising the compensation package for CEO Vicky Gregg to more than $4.4 million...... “When the rest of the country is hurting and struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, the amount of compensation that is being paid to directors and the CEO at BlueCross BlueShield is just absolutely absurd,” said Tony Garr, deputy director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, a Nashville-based group that supports health care reform. more...

May 13, 2011 - AP, The Oak Ridger - Compassion, finances must be weighed
OAK RIDGE - A coalition of health-care and social-justice advocacy groups came forth with an analysis explaining that cuts to Tennessee's safety-net programs proposed in Gov. Bill Haslam's 2011-12 budget were unnecessarily severe...While Haslam's overall handling of the budget in lean economic times was commended, his figures for funding the state Departments of Children's Services, Health, Human Services, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the TennCare program could harm vulnerable populations of Tennesseans, said the group, made up of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign. more ...

May 12, 2011 - TriCities.com - Haslam responds to budget critique
Kingsport, TN - A coalition of health-care and social-justice advocacy groups came forth with an analysis explaining that cuts to Tennessee’s safety-net programs proposed in Gov. Bill Haslam’s 2011-12 budget were unnecessarily severe. While Haslam’s overall handling of the budget in lean economic times was commended, his figures for funding the state Departments of Children’s Services, Health, Human Services, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the TennCare program could harm vulnerable populations of Tennesseans, said the group, made up of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, Tennessee Justice Center, Tennessee Disability Coalition, National Alliance on Mental Illness-Tennessee, Tennesseans for Fair Taxation and Tennessee Citizen Action. more ...

May 10, 2011 - Public News Service - The Tennessee Budget Back on the Table
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee lawmakers and the state administration are ready to begin setting a final plan for the budget year that starts July 1. ..... The restoration of proposed cuts to health care, mental health, long-term care, and disability services will allow thousands of families and individuals to receive the help they need, according to Carol Westlake, executive director of the Tennessee Disability Coalition (Coalition Partner with THCC). more...

May 8, 2011 - Knoxville News Sentinel, Gov. Haslam wise to restore TennCare - Editorial
TennCare, the state's public insurance program for the poor, won't face budget cuts as deep as previously planned. more ...

May 8, 2011 - Tennessean - Governor heeds call for social services - Editorial
A little over a week ago, a coalition of health-care and social-justice advocacy groups came forth with an analysis explaining that cuts to Tennessee’s safety-net programs proposed in Gov. Bill Haslam’s 2011-12 budget were unnecessarily severe. more ...

May 8, 2011 - Tennessean - Haslam opts for 'smart government' - OpEd by Partners
It’s budget time again in Tennessee, and we are facing our economic challenges by having the same tired, old argument — “big government” vs. “small government.”
But our budget discussions should never center around “big government” vs. “small government,” because what the hard-working people of Tennessee really want is “smart government” and “effective government.” more...

April 4, 2011 - THCC Press Release - Medicare beneficiaries would lose their choice of doctors under the Health Care Compact bill being considered by State Legislature
Nashville, TN – Under a bill proposed in the Tennessee state legislature (HB0369, SB0326), and to be voted on by the House Health and Human Resources sub-committee on Tuesday, the federally protected and administered Medicare program would move under the control of the Bureau of TennCare. “This could jeopardize security, choice and benefits for over 1 million seniors and people with disabilities in Tennessee who rely on the Medicare program for their health care coverage”, says Beth Uselton, Executive Director for the Tennessee Health Care Campaign. more ... ...

March 23, 2011 - Tennessean - Advocates mark 1st birthday of health care reform
So, how are you celebrating today’s one-year anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act? Dinner at a nice restaurant? A Fox News/CNN/MSNBC shoutfest watch party? A quiet evening gathered around the hearth, trading stories and reminiscing? more ...

March 23, 2011 - Fox 17 TV - Tennesseans Mark Health Care reform
Louise Hardaway once spent a lot of time worrying about her son Adam. His decision not to go to college made him ineligible for health insurance under her plan. Hardaway says, "Now, he's young and healthy and you hope that everything will be fine but you still do worry." On year later, Adam is covered. more ...

March 22, 2011 - THCC Media Advisory - Birthday Party in the Halls of Legislative Plaza
On Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 12:45 p.m. Tennessee Health Care Campaign will host a press conference in Legislative Plaza to highlight the one-year anniversary of the new health care law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. THCC will be hosting a birthday party for the law in the halls of Legislative Plaza more ...

March 16, 2011 - Tennessean - TennCare fraud unit defends its worth
Sullen faces stare back from the mural of mug shots that lines the hallways in the Office of the Inspector General - the state agency that investigates TennCare fraud.....Tony Garr, policy director at Tennessee Health Care Campaign, wonders if funding the unit is the best use of taxpayers' money. He said some convictions are "very legitimate," but in cases in which a grandma or single parent has turned to an illegal alternative for care because they felt the health-care system failed them, then money would be better spent on counseling and support programs."(Prosecuting) is part of the solution," Garr said. "The other part of the solution does not exist, and that is to provide real care and other service to folks who really were not criminals. They were just seeking some help and could not find it." more ...

March 9, 2011 - Metro Pulse (Knoxville) - Meet Your Health-Care Reform
It would be a bit of an understatement to say that a lot of confusion, distortion, and misinformation still colors public discussion of the federal health-care law passed last year. So if you’re still wondering what it means for you, your family, or your business, you might benefit from the day-long seminar being offered this weekend by the Tennessee Health Care Campaign. THCC, a group dedicated to “working for guaranteed affordable choice,” will host the event from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday at St. James Episcopal Church, 1101 N. Broadway.more ...

March 9, 2011 - Public News Service - Health Reform in TN: A showdown, or a waste of Time?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee is close to telling the federal government that the state won't recognize all the provisions of the new health care overhaul passed by Congress last year. However, opponents say the bill now headed to the governor's desk will hold no weight, as laws passed by the U.S. Congress trump state laws. Beth Uselton, executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, a nonpartisan patient advocacy organization, calls it a "distraction" from the real problems Tennessee families are facing. more ...

March 8, 2011 - WPLN News, Nashville - “Healthcare Freedom Act” Ready for Governor’s Signature, by Joe White. After a year of fighting about President Obama’s federal health care initiative, the Tennessee legislature has passed a bill saying the federal government can’t make Tennesseans obey it. more...

March 8, 2011 - Chattanoogan - State House Passes Health Freedom Act. more...