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	Phil Bredesen Governor, State of Tennessee
		While the process to dissolve TennCare is underway, the Governor noted the decision could be reversed if the Tennessee Justice Center, a nonprofit public-interest law firm based in Nashville, will provide the State with immediate relief from longstanding "consent decrees" that are blocking reform efforts.
		TennCare began in January 1994 as an innovative experiment to expand Tennessee's Medicaid program by using managed care principles to deliver health care to a larger number of people for the same amount of money.
		Bredesen reiterated TennCare's decade-long contribution to public health in Tennessee, saying the concept was and is "a wonderful dream." But he added unchecked growth must be brought under control or else the State risks jeopardizing all its other priorities.
	www.tennesseeanytime.org /governor/viewArticleContent.do?id=7&page=0 (1989 words)

	TennCare - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		TennCare was proposed and implemented in 1994 by then-governor Ned McWherter.
		The TennCare waiver offered coverage to families who either had no access to group insurance or individuals who had medical conditions that made them "uninsurable." The individuals who were covered through the TennCare waiver paid monthly premiums for their health coverage based on their incomes.
		In 2005, the TennCare program was dealt a devastating blow by Governor Phil Bredesen, who had promised during his campaign to reform the program.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/TennCare (588 words)

	OpinionJournal - Featured Article
		TennCare promised the impossible dream of politicians everywhere: Lower health-care costs while covering more of the "uninsured." They got the impossible, all right.
		The TennCare concept was for the state to operate like an HMO, providing health insurance to those who needed it and paying the premiums for those who couldn't afford it.
		TennCare is now in worse shape than it was a decade ago.
	opinionjournal.com /editorial/feature.html?id=110005987 (702 words)

	TennCare: Facts and details from Encyclopedia Topic (Site not responding. Last check: )
		TennCare was proposed and implemented in 1990 by former Governor of Tennessee[Follow this hyperlink for a summary of this subject] Ned McWherter[Follow this hyperlink for a summary of this subject].
		He demonstrated how the program could cover many of the medically-underserved uninsured and uninsurable population for about the same amount of money as was being spent to cover only the medically indigent under Medicaid.
		Other criticisms of TennCare have been that it has allowed to become a "dumping ground" for persons that private health insurers do not wish to insure, EHandler: no quick summary.
	www.absoluteastronomy.com /encyclopedia/t/te/tenncare1.htm (858 words)

	TennCare: Two Years and Working
		The frequency with which those covered by TennCare see a physician is also shown to be comparable to the non-TennCare population, with 89% of the children of both groups seeing a physician at least annually.
		Based on this important measure, TennCare passes the critical test of preserving the quality of care and seems to be on the right path to improving quality.
		TennCare's success is not due to the tinkering with details engaged in by both the current and past Administration.
	www.hpolicy.duke.edu /cyberexchange/states/tn/dlm_2.htm (1911 words)

	Tackling TennCare Problems
		Currently, TennCare is not required to report at any time to the Legislature on the status of the program.
		Furthermore, the TennCare Bureau has never completed a full re-verification of recipients, which is mandated though the federal waiver.
		At $4.3 billion annually, TennCare is the largest portion of the state budget, but it is clear that even with all the difficulties of the program, the State of Tennessee is saving money compared to where it would be now under the old Medicaid system.
	www.johnrutherford.info /IR022200.htm (761 words)

	TennCare dissolution begins, Bredesen says - Wednesday, 11/10/04 (Site not responding. Last check: )
		He said the process that has started to end TennCare is ''not irreversible,'' and he said he will give advocates the seven days they have asked for to try to find common ground.
		Bredesen last week made comments to several groups that TennCare was on ''life support'' and could not be sustained as is. Because of the opposition to his cost-controlling efforts, he said, the state might have to pull the plug on the program.
		TennCare is a supplementary health program that covers more people than the federally-mandated Medicaid program.
	tennessean.com /government/archives/04/11/61301856.shtml?... (565 words)

	Governor proposes limits to save TennCare - Wednesday, 02/18/04 (Site not responding. Last check: )
		On average, TennCare enrollees are getting 30 prescriptions a year, compared to a national average of 10.5, a statistic that drew gasps from lawmakers last night.
		TennCare also would no longer cover antihistamines, such as prescription Claritin, and gastric-acid reducers, like Nexium, except in rare cases, because effective remedies are available over the counter, he said.
		Phil Bredesen's TennCare proposal was based on two key points made by an independent consultant: The program is too expensive to continue operating in its existing form; and upward of $1 billion could be saved over five years by limiting enrollment and benefits and making other changes.
	tennessean.com /government/archives/04/02/47098001.shtml?... (1560 words)

	TENN TAX BATTLE: HIT-OR-MYTH 'FIXERS' SET THEIR SCOPES ON TENNCARE (Site not responding. Last check: )
		TennCare, which provides health insurance for the state's poorest residents, makes an easy target for political rhetoric because of its size, complexities, management problems and the pervasive belief - disputed by the state's budget experts - that "fixing" TennCare would end the state's financial problems.
		TennCare's per capita cost for its health services program is the lowest in the nation - $3,104 per person per year compared to $3,926 in Arkansas, the second-lowest.
		TennCare officials have removed about 60,000 people from the TennCare rolls since reverification started in December, and started the process with those they deemed most likely to be ineligible - people who were late on paying premiums, hadn't accessed services in a long time, or haven't responded to TennCare mailings.
	www.freerepublic.com /focus/news/674613/posts (1880 words)

	Advocates want safety net to catch TennCare's sickest \| www.tennessean.com \| The Tennessean
		Health-care advocates fear that 140,000 TennCare enrollees will lose their benefits in the coming year, and they are urging legislators to create a safety net now.
		She said in an average month 20,000 people lose TennCare, the state's insurance program for the poor and disabled, because they are no longer eligible and another 22,000 new enrollees are added.
		TennCare officials say the program now has such a process in place, and in January they asked a federal judge to make people in this group go through the same annual eligibility checks that other enrollees are subject to.
	www.tennessean.com /apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/NEWS07/805120351/-1/RSS05 (845 words)

	Four charged with TennCare Fraud - Monday, 08/15/05
		The arrests come as a part of a recent crackdown on TennCare prescription fraud by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and was conducted in coordination with officers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, 18th Judicial District Drug Task Force and Hendersonville Police Department, according to a release from the OIG.
		According to the affidavit of complaint, Griffin attempted to obtain TennCare medical assistance benefits that she was not entitled to.
		TennCare fraud and forgery are Class E felonies punishable by up to two years in prison.
	www.gallatinnewsexaminer.com /apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050815/MTCN0401/308150003/1309/MTCN04 (649 words)

	TN TAX BATTLE: FEDS SIGN OFF ON OVERHAUL OF TENNCARE
		TennCare Medicaid will cover Medicaid-eligible enrollees with benefits similar to the existing TennCare program, but the second program, TennCare Standard, is an HMO-style program whose availability will be subject to funding by the Tennessee General Assembly, which is wrestling with a $1.2 billion gap in next year's budget.
		TennCare is fixed, and now the ball is in their court," said Deputy Commissioner John Tighe, who negotiated the new waiver with federal officials.
		TennCare will begin evaluating enrollees for continued coverage on July 1 and should be done by the end of the year.
	www.freerepublic.com /focus/news/693018/posts (3553 words)

	AAPD-The New TennCare Waiver Proposal: What is the Impact on Children?
		Enrollment for children in TennCare Standard is closed although children who are enrolled in Medicaid and who become eligible for Standard (for example, because their parent works more hours or gets a raise) can be enrolled.
		TennCare Standard children are subject to monthly premiums and copayments, while TennCare Medicaid children are not required to pay these costs.
		TennCare Standard children are among the groups of people whose eligibility, benefits and cost sharing could be affected by this new waiver authority.
	www.aapd-dc.org /policies/Children.html (2217 words)

	The Sparta Expositor:Scam alert for TennCare enrollees (Site not responding. Last check: )
		TennCare enrollees need to pay close attention to scam artist attempting to gain access to individuals personal information by calling and posing as TennCare officials.
		The TennCare Bureau, along with the Tennessee Departments of Commerce and Insurance and Human Services, have issued a warning of a scam related to the planned disenrollment of TennCare enrollees.
		TennCare enrollees will be receiving packets via mail and are encouraged to promptly submit additional information that could help them keep coverage.
	www.spartaexpositor.com /newsdetail.asp?ArticleID=1129 (374 words)

	TennCare: The Perils of Cost Containment
		In interviews with the media he claimed that inspiration for TennCare had struck him when he realized that state employees' health care costs were being contained by the private insurance providers while Medicaid costs continued to rocket skyward.
		Related to the rapid implementation of TennCare was Blue Cross and Blue Shield's decision to implement a unilateral demand on its existing providers to now care for TennCare patients.
		A dramatic story from TennCare's first year was the story of Brandie Hinds, a two-year-old child who needed a liver and bowel transplant in order to survive congenital intestinal malformations.
	www.nightowl.net /~mbooker/tenncare.htm (3697 words)

	The TennCare Diaries: April 2005
		BCBS claims it lost $1.7 million on TennCare in 2004, but of course that loss will be mitigated as Bredesen is going to cut 323,000 enrollees from TennCare this June 1.
		Of course, Hickey estimated that ''hundreds'' of those who rely on nursing care at their homes will be among the first wave to lose benefits, under the plan to phase in enrollment cuts and benefit limits.
		Fortunately, we have lawyers to question such big wigs: Ryan Morettini, a lawyer for TennCare enrollees, asked Steinhauer if he was aware of a recent news report in which Tennessee Hospital Association chief Mike Huggins said the TennCare changes could cost the state's hospitals $660 million in revenue next year.
	tenncare.blogspot.com /2005_04_01_tenncare_archive.html (1499 words)

	[No title]
		TennCare says doctors are prescribing too many anti-psychotic drugs for kids.
		TennCare leaders say the problem is the doctors prescribing these anti-psychotic drugs aren't psychiatrists...
		TennCare leaders expect this effort to result in healthier kids while saving the state millions of dollars in prescription drug costs in the process.
	wbir.com /news/news.aspx?storyid=29693 (320 words)

	Three Cannon County Residents Charged With TennCare Fraud \| WBRY am1540
		A third person is charged with TennCare fraud by obtaining a prescription paid for by TennCare with the intent to resell the drug.
		TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years per charge in prison.
		The OIG, a law enforcement agency separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has worked cases leading to the arrest of over 600 individuals for TennCare fraud, with over $700,000 paid in restitution to TennCare, and total estimated cost avoidance in TennCare of over $75 million, according to latest figures.
	www.wbry.com /node/964 (439 words)

	Tennessee Justice Center
		TennCare operates under a special “waiver” from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (C.M.S.) exempting it from certain federal rules.
		TennCare is the largest single funder of treatment for medically fragile children and underwrites three fourths of all nursing home care for the elderly.
		TennCare is a major purchaser of prescription drugs in the state, the second largest source of hospital revenues and the financial cornerstone of services for people with mental disabilities.
	www.tnjustice.org /tenncare/myths/myths_default.html (742 words)

	TennCare says it did provide health data - Nashville, Tennessee - Wednesday, 11/23/05 - Tennessean.com (Site not responding. Last check: )
		In letters to lawmakers yesterday, state officials strongly disputed a Tennessean story detailing TennCare's failure to share health data on those losing their medical insurance coverage with a "safety net" task force appointed by the governor.
		This was apparently never done, and lawmakers and task force members said the letters did not address a central point: that TennCare had already produced a computer analysis in December of those scheduled to be cut from TennCare — but did not share it with the task force.
		Reached yesterday, former task force members said they're not sure what to make of TennCare's claims that the data was available to them, when they were told it clearly wasn't.
	www.gallatinnewsexaminer.com /apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051123/NEWS0204/511230482/1309/MTCN04 (1072 words)

	The TennCare Diaries
		BCBS claims it lost $1.7 million on TennCare in 2004, but of course that loss will be mitigated as Bredesen is going to cut 323,000 enrollees from TennCare this June 1.
		When I asked her what she was concerned about with the proposed TennCare cuts, such as the four med limit, she replied, “How will I afford the prescriptions that will not be covered?” Amanda receives six prescriptions a month, adding up to $2000.00 per month.
		When I asked Amanda what she would do if she were cut off of TennCare her answer was this: “I would be on Governor Phil Bredesen’s front door step.” Amanda’s schedule is something to this effect: 4:00 a.m.
	tenncare.blogspot.com (3385 words)

	InsureBlog: TennCare, the Sequel??
		From the folks who brought you TennCare, we now have the sequel.
		Advocates for the poor and disabled worked closely with various administrations to improve the program for the benefit of its recipients.
		Initially, the focus will be on workers earning $24,000 a year or less and small businesses such as restaurants, retail shops and landscaping firms...
	insureblog.blogspot.com /2006/03/tenncare-sequel.html (491 words)

	Tenncare update on Memphis Medical News (Site not responding. Last check: )
		The contract between TennCare and its dental benefits manager, Doral Dental, will not be renewed at the end of this contract year, which ends June 30, 2005, TennCare officials announced today.
		After an initial gesture by Gordon Bonnyman and the TennCare advocates to suspend the consent decrees for two years, Governor Bredesen expressed optimism that the program could be saved.
		When we learned Governor Bredesen was reviewing his options and expected to make an announcement concerning the future of TennCare, the decision was made to hold the November issue in order to bring you the latest news possible.
	host1.bondware.com /~memphismed30/news.php?viewStory=258 (865 words)

	[No title]
		TennCare is no longer paying for Valium and some other drugs used to treat anxiety and seizures.
		TennCare will cover the drugs when they are administered during an emergency.
		TennCare officials say that for daily use, the cost is low and could be covered by the patient.
	www.wbir.com /news/local/story.aspx?storyid=32309&provider=rss (179 words)

	Holston Conference UMC - TennCare Crisis (Site not responding. Last check: )
		Hodges and Brock identified five areas that Tennessee- based United Methodist conferences can address: assessing the impact of TennCare cuts and collecting stories; ministry to immediate needs; educating members about TennCare and the health-care crisis in general; advocacy, especially as it relates to the first three activities; promoting preventive care among members.
		TennCare is being ineffectively managed: People cannot find doctors and prescription drugs are costing the state too much.
		Volunteers are needed to organize TennCare Town Hall Meetings in every county in TN.
	www.holstonconference.com /newsflash/tenncare.html (1276 words)

	Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury - Division of State Audit
		The Medicaid/TennCare section of the Division of State Audit, under an agreement with the TennCare Bureau of the Department of Finance and Administration, provides auditing services for the state's TennCare program.
		The agreement for such audits shall be subject to prior approval of the Comptroller of the Treasury and must be submitted on standard "Contract to Audit Accounts." These forms are available at the Comptroller Forms page.
		In addition to TennCare audit, the group also sets reimbursement rates for and conducts audits of Medicaid long-term care facilities.
	www.comptroller.state.tn.us /sa/satenncr.htm (319 words)

	Changes in TennCare
		A major change in TennCare would give the state, not the doctor, the ultimate power to decide what treatment and drugs are medically necessary for a patient.
		To shore up protections for enrollees, AARP is assisting the Tennessee Justice Center in a lawsuit that asks the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville to evaluate the program's new rules.
		It also filed a friend of the court brief in an unsuccessful lawsuit that asked the federal court to ensure that enrollees who were cut from TennCare could appeal if they believed they were dropped by mistake.
	www.aarp.org /states/tn/tn-news/changes_in_tenncare (340 words)

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