November 15, 2004:
Four safety net organizations, representing teaching and childrenís hospitals, community health centers, and mental health centers, are encouraged by todayís effort by TennCare enrollee attorney Gordon Bonnyman seeking a suspension of existing court orders affecting the management of the TennCare program.
The Tennessee Public and Teaching Hospital Association (TnPATH), the Childrenís Hospital Alliance of Tennessee (CHAT), the Tennessee Primary Care Association (TPCA) and the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations (TAMHO) are major providers of care to TennCare and charity care patients.
ìWe are extremely hopeful that Judge Nixon will agree with Gordon that this action is appropriate,î according to Anne Carr, representing TnPATH. ìWhen the choice is between scaled back benefits for 400,000 people or nothing, I think itís kind of obvious which way you need to go.î
ìWe hope this marks progress toward meaningful discussion,î added Mary Nell Bryan, President of the Childrenís Hospital Alliance of Tennessee. ìWe have grave concern for the 80,000 children and their families who stand to lose their health insurance coverageî
Safety net providers serve everyone needing care regardless of ability to pay and often offer special services to the sickest and neediest, including pregnant women, high risk babies and children, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill.
ìItís impossible to exaggerate the potential impact of losing benefits for this many people,î Kathy Wood-Dobbins of TPCA said. ìServices important to all Tennesseans would be dramatically and negatively affected.î
ìItís a tragedy waiting to happen.î
Contacts:
Anne Carr, TnPATH, (615) 255-2643
Mary Nell Bryan, CHAT, (615) 479-1980
Kathy Wood-Dobbins, TPCA (615) 329-3836
Dick Blackburn, TAMHO, (615) 244-2220