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Update: Vote not taken this last Thursday
Scheduled to happen on Wednesday, May 7
Need your immediate action AGAIN!
Thousands of very sick Tennesseans need you to take 5 minutes and make a difference.
140,000+ people will lose their TennCare this calendar year. This is almost as many as were cut in 2005 when 170,000 people lost their health care coverage. Now listen up. In 2005, not all but many had very serious medical conditions:
- 137 people were undergoing cancer treatment and were cut;
- 146 people had an organ transplant and were undergoing anti-rejection drug therapy;
- 298 people were undergoing dialysis for kidney failure;
- 17,000 people were seriously and persistently mentally ill; and
- Grant money was distributed to clinics and organizations treating people with HIV/AIDS, Hemophilia, etc.
The point is that when TennCare makes cuts of this magnitude, thousands of people are going to have life threatening medical conditions that, if not treated, they will die.
In 2005, the state legislature, in its wisdom, set aside money in the TennCare budget for a safety-net. The legislature needs to do this again.
On Wednesday morning, May 7, the Budget Subcommittee of the House Finance Committee will be considering Appropriation amendments that will replicate what was done in 2005.
Eleven (11) state representatives will be voting 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 Monday, Tuesday, May 5 and 6, and early Wednesday morning. Leave a message if you are not able to speak with their secretary.
Whether or not you live in one of the following 20 Tennessee counties listed in RED below where these 11 legislators live, please call! These legislators will be making decisions that will help or hurt people in every county in Tennessee.
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 who are on the Budget Subcommittee of the House Finance Committee).
Now is the time to call your state representatives 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, asking them to create a safety net. These representatives need to receive hundreds of calls and emails all day Monday, Tuesday, and early Wednesday 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.
Please make calls to all the legislators below. If you live in one of the counties listed, it is especially important that you call your state representative. Ask them to support amendment No.10 and No.11 to the Appropriation Bill No.4219 in the House to provide a safety net for people who will be cut whose medical conditions are life threatening.
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
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Take care, Tony Garr,tgarr@thcc2.org