Tennessee Health Care Campaign

Tennessee Health Care Campaign (THCC)
Health Care is a Human Right
Who is looking out for your health care?
April 30, 2007

1. Have you been denied medical care by TennCare?

2. Who is looking out for your health care? Calls / emails needed today and before 10 AM on Tuesday morning.

3. Stories help people understand the health care crisis!

4. THCC's Annual Meeting, June 23.

5. Children's Health Care

6. CoverRx re-opens for new application

7. Health Care in Tennessee - Weekly radio show

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1. Have you been denied medical care recently? We need to hear from you!

The state is now operating under a new definition of medical necessity - medical care that is least costly and only what is adequate. In summary, your managed care organization can deny your care and tell the doctor to send you home without prescribing any care.

If this is not scary enough, in the Middle TN area the managed care organizations are getting paid a fixed amount each month. Whether you use any medical care or not, the managed care organizations get to keep the money that they do not spend on you. So the more care the MCOs deny, the more money they can pocket. If this has happened to you, please call us toll free at 1-877-431-7083.

2. State Legislation - Health Care Study Commission

Does our state have a plan to insure 1,000,000 uninsured Tennesseans? NO.

What about a plan to protect 1,000,000 under-insured Tennesseans? NO.

Representative Hensley (HB1976) and Senator Tracy (SB2046) have bills that will establish a Health Care Study Commission.

House Bill 1976 is coming up for a vote tomorrow morning, 10:30 AM, in the House Health and Human Resources Committee. State legislators on this committee listed below need to hear that you support the establishment of a Health Care Study Commission. Make sure that you call your representative. See counties listed with names. Attached are Talking Points Call Toll Free and email today the following state representatives:

Representative Joe Armstrong, Knox County, 1800-449-8366, ext. 10768, rep.joe.armstrong@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Jim Cobb, Hamilton and Rhea counties, 1-800-449-8366, ext.11450, rep.jim.cobb@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Chris Crider, Gibson and Carroll counties, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 17478, rep.chris.crider@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Lois Deberry, Shelby County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 13830, rep.lois.deberry@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative John Deberry, Shelby County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 12239, rep.john.deberry@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Tom Dubois, Maury County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 17444, rep.tom.dubois@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Jimmy Eldridge, Madison County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 17475, rep.jimmy.eldridge@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Joanne Favors, Hamilton County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 12702, rep.joanne.favors@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Dennis Ferguson, Roane and Loudon counties, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 17658, rep.dennis.ferguson@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Mike Harrison, Hancock and Hawkins counties, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 17480, rep.mike.harrison@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Joey Hensley, Lawrence, Lewis, and Wayne counties, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 17476, rep.joey.hensley@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Sherry Jones, Davidson County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 12035, rep.sherry.jones@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Debra Maggart, Sumner County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 13893, rep.debra.young.maggart@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Jacon Mumpower, Johnson and Sullivan counties, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 12050, rep.jason.mumpower@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Gary Odom, Davidson County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 14410, rep.gary.odom@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Doug Overbey, Blount County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 10981, rep.doug.overbey@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Mary Pruitt, Davidson County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 13853, rep.mary.pruitt@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative David Shepard, Dickson County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 13513, rep.david.shepard@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Mike Turner, Davidson County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 13229, rep.mike.turner@legislature.state.tn.us

Representative Kent Williams, Carter County, 1-800-449-8366, ext. 17475, rep.kent.williams@legislature.state.tn.us

3. Stories help people understand how our health care system is so unjust. Please share your story on:

Home Health Care: Tennessee has been criticized for having the worst state benefits in the nation in terms of in-home care for the elderly and people who are disabled. Critics say more coverage for in-home care would save the state money by helping people stay at home as oppose to going into a nursing home. What have your experiences been in this area?

Foreclosures – Have you lost your home or about to lose your home because of medical debt or the TennCare cuts? Did you have to take out an equity loan on your home or take out a second mortgage to pay for your medical care? Are you behind on your home payments because you had to choose to pay for your medical care?

4. Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign:

Saturday, June 23, 10 AM to 4 PM, Edgehill United Methodist Church, 1502 Edgehill Ave., Nashville, TN. 37212

Program being planned:

A.    State Director from Illinois, Campaign for Better Health, will share with us their successes and failures (Invited);

B.    State Health Insurance Program – SCHIP reauthorization & why it is important.

C.   National Efforts for Health Care for all.

D.   How to talk about health care and get the publicÕs attention.

E.    Local Organizing Groups

F.    Un-cover Cover Tennessee -

5. State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP):

There are 9,000,000 uninsured children in America and over 150,000 in Tennessee. Elect Susie for President. Go to http://www.electsusie.com/ and put in your vote.

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