Government
Massive TennCare cuts ahead
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 24, 2005
Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen recently announced that the state would be moving forward with a modified plan to reduce TennCare rolls by approximately 323,000 adults who are currently covered by the program but are not eligible for basic Medicaid. The state will preserve coverage for the approximately 112,000 children in TennCare who would not otherwise be eligible for basic Medicaid.
The 396,000 adults who are left in the program will have some of their benefits cut, but all 612,000 children will still get full benefits. The governor has battled with patients' advocates who are suing the state over proposed changes to TennCare.
"It might not be the level of care we want to provide, but it's the level of care we can afford without bankrupting our state," said Bredesen. "We're putting limits into what has been the most generous health care program in the nation."
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/01/24/gvbf0124.htm.
