Eleven (11) state representatives will be voting on Thursday afternoon, May 1, on the fate of thousands of medically fragile, very sick adults who have TennCare but will lose their health coverage this year. These 11 state representatives are members of the Budget Subcommittee of the House Finance Committee.

Phone calls need to be made to these 11 state representatives all day Wednesday, April 30, and Thursday morning, May 1.

Do you live in one of the following 20 Tennessee counties? The 11 legislators voting on this live in one of the counties listed below:

Blount, Chester, Claiborne, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, Dyer, Jefferson, Grainger, Hancock, Hardeman, Hardin, Hawkins, Henderson, Lauderdale, Knox, Madison, McNairy, Shelby, and Wayne counties. (Listed below are legislators by county).

If you do, now is the time to call your state representative toll free and ask him/her to support transferring TennCare funds to the health department to create a safety-net that will provide life-saving treatment for thousands of your fellow Tennesseans.

Ask them to support Amendment No.10 and No.11 to the Appropriation Bill No. 4219.

Also email them. To create a safety net, these representatives need to receive hundreds of calls and emails all day Wednesday and Thursday morning.

Background:

There are 200,000 adults who are on the current TennCare Spend Down & SSI program. 50,000  of these adults are in the Spend Down program and the other 150,000 are on the program through SSI.  Between now and the end of this summer, more than 40,000 of the 50,000 in the Spend Down program are very likely going to be cut from TennCare. Before the end of this calendar year, more than 100,000 of the 150,000 on through SSI will also very likely be cut from the program.  Many of these adults who will be losing their health care coverage are very sick.  15,000 or more are Seriously and Persistently Mentally Ill. More than 2,000 are receiving cancer treatments, anti-rejection drug therapy for their organ transplants, dialysis, severe diabetes, oxygen therapy, or some other type of life saving treatment.

Rep. Charles Curtiss has filed Amendment No.10 and No.11 to the Appropriation Bill No.4219 in the House of Representatives.  The purpose of this amendment is to protect this population by providing a safety net for people whose medical conditions are life threatening.  His amendment would move up to $125 million of the $460 million which has already been set aside in the TennCare budget for the 200,000 adults in the Spend down SSI program. 

Blount County

Rep. Doug Overbey (R), 201 War Memorial Bldg, Nashville, TN  37243-0120
(615) 741-0981, Toll Free: 1-800-449-8366, x10981
rep.doug.overbey@legislature.state.tn.us

Claiborne, Grainger, and Jefferson Counties

Rep. Dennis E. Roach (R), 217 War Memorial Bldg, Nashville, TN  37243-0135
(615) 741-2534, Toll Free: 1-800-449-8366, x12534
rep.dennis.roach@legislature.state.tn.us

Davidson County

Rep. Gary Odom (D), 18A Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN  37243-0155
(615) 741-4410, Toll Free: 1-800-449-8366, x14410
rep.gary.odom@legislature.state.tn.us

Hancock and Hawkins Counties

Rep. Michael Harrison (R), 206A War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN  37243-0109
(615) 741-7480, Toll Free: 1-800-449-8366, x17480
rep.mike.harrison@legislature.state.tn.us

Hardeman and Madison Counties

Rep. Johnny W. Shaw (D), 33 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN  37243-0180
(615) 741-4538, Toll Free: 1-800-449-8366, x14538
rep.johnny.shaw@legislature.state.tn.us

Hardin, McNairy, and Decatur Counties

Rep. Randy Rinks (D), 18 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN  37243-0171
(615) 741-2007, Toll Free: 1-800-449-8366, x12007
rep.randy.rinks@legislature.state.tn.us

Henderson, Chester, Decatur, and Wayne Counties

Rep. Steve McDaniel (R), 115 War Memorial Bldg, Nashville, TN  37243-0172
(615) 741-0750, Toll Free: 1-800-449-8366, x10750
rep.steve.mcdaniel@legislature.state.tn.us

Knox County

Rep. Joseph E. Armstrong (D) , 25 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN  37243-0115
(615) 741-0768, Toll Free: 1-800-449-8366, x10768
rep.joe.armstrong@legislature.state.tn.us

Knox County

Rep. Harry J. Tindell (D), 33 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN  37243-0113
(615) 741-2031, Toll Free: 1-800-449-8366, x12031
rep.harry.tindell@legislature.state.tn.us

Lauderdale, Crockett, and Dyer Counties

Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (D), 33 Legislative Plaza ,Nashville, TN  37243-0182
(615)741-2134, Toll Free: 1-800-449-8366, x12134
rep.craig.fitzhugh@legislature.state.tn.us

Shelby County

Rep. Lois M. DeBerry (D),m 15 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN  37243-0191
(615) 741-3830, Toll Free: 1-800-449-8366, x13830
rep.lois.deberry@legislature.state.tn.us

Take care, Tony Garr,tgarr@thcc2.org