NAACP NASHVILLE BRANCH RESOLUTION

EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT GOVERNOR BREDESENíS TENNCARE REFORM PROPOSAL

September 28, 2004

WHEREAS, TennCare is an critically needed program that provides health care to 1.3 million Tennesseans who would otherwise lack coverage;

WHEREAS, TennCare serves a disproportionate share of African-Americans across the state;

WHEREAS, minority health care providers carry a disproportionately large share of the burden of caring for TennCare enrollees of all backgrounds;

WHEREAS, scores of state and national groups representing health care consumers, including the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and a group of nearly 200 ministers from African-American and other churches across Tennessee, have voiced concerns about the proposed changes in TennCare included in the stateís recent waiver application;

WHEREAS, national civil rights and health experts have warned that the proposed TennCare changes sought by state officials would undermine minority health in Tennessee and would set a damaging precedent that would worsen racial disparities in health status throughout the United States;

WHEREAS, the NAACP Nashville Branch supports common-sense, cost-effective TennCare reforms;

THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED AND PUBLICLY PROCLAIMED that the NAACP Nashville Branch:

1)    endorses the letter from Tennessee Clergy to Governor Phil Bredesen dated September 22, 2004 expressing grave concerns about his TennCare reform proposal;

2)    urges Governor Bredesen to make appropriate changes to his reform proposal to ensures that TennCare enrollees receive health care as prescribed by culturally competent health care professionals;

3)    urge Tennessee and federal officials to modify the Governorís TennCare proposals so that health care professionals who serve TennCare patients are empowered to provide care of a quality that meets their high professional standards and effectively meets patient needs;

4)    urge the national officers of the NAACP to use all efforts and resources of the organization to inform the public and policymakers of the dangers and harm that will result if the TennCare proposals are approved in their present form; and to

5)    calls upon Tennesseeís congressional delegation to use their influence to modify the TennCare proposals to eliminate their harmful effects; and

6)    calls upon Senator Bill Frist, in his unique position as a physician and as Senate Majority Leader, to use his influence to ensure that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services do not approve the present TennCare waiver application without substantial modifications that remove its damaging effects and, specifically, its disparate adverse impact on minority Tennesseans.