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May 12, 2005
Another great letter
From today's paper:
What do other states do about medically needy? I feel sympathy for those who have lost or may lose medical insurance. I do not criticize their desire to have their coverage continue at any cost, regardless who pays.It seems to have become a sinkhole which threatens to swallow the resources of our entire state. Parents want better educational facilities. Once residential requirements were not legal, and many on TennCare moved here to enroll - especially those with medical-needs children or other relatives.
Again, I do not cast blame. Surely everyone in this category did not move here. I am curious to know what states without a similar insurance program are doing about medically needy people who need or seek unlimited doctor visits and almost uncountable prescriptions.
The answer for the Tennessee Justice Center seems to be to encourage lawsuits against TennCare, which means Tennessee taxpayers. I ask again, what are the other 49 states doing to solve this problem - maybe advising a move to Tennessee?
MRS. EDDIE AKERS
Knoxville
Mrs. Akers,
Tenncare enrollment has been closed for years now. Other states can send their people here, but they're not getting on Tenncare.
Tenncare (or something like it) is federally mandated. We have two choices, run Tenncare and have the federal government pay 2/3 of the cost or drop Tenncare and go back to Medicaid with the federal government paying 1/2 the cost.
There was more waste and fraud under the Medicaid system we had before Tenncare by the way. Oh and finding people defrauding Tenncare might actually prove to be pretty easy if we had a Governor willing to turn over the required data to the agency funded to review it.
Sincerly,
Paul Witt
Posted by Paul Witt at May 12, 2005 05:47 PM