Private contributions considered for TennCare ‘safety net’ group
The TennCare Foundation is one of a set of reforms Bredesen has proposed for the public funded health care program for the poor, disabled and uninsured. It would administer a pool of money that could be used to pay for treatment not covered TennCare.
Bredesen told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that the foundation could be set up “so it can accept contributions from church groups or disease-related groups that want to do something for a class of patients.”
Sen. David Fowler, R-Signal Mountain, said the concept of using private money to help pay for public health care is “novel.”
“Whether anyone would want to contribute to it, other than taxpayers through their tax dollars, remains to be seen,” he said.
The TennCare Foundation would consider appeals from enrollees to pay for services that TennCare won’t. It would be administered by a board of seven appointed by the governor.
The foundation is part of a package of TennCare reforms that Bredesen has proposed to curb the growth of spending in the $7.8 billion expanded Medicaid program that covers 1.3 million state residents.
Legislation to implement Bredesen’s plans is advancing in the General Assembly, but the safety net provision isn’t included because it doesn’t require lawmakers’ approval.
Bills moving through the Legislature would increase copayments for 35 percent of TennCare enrollees; limit prescriptions, doctor visits and hospital stays; and cover only the cheapest prescription drug in any category.
Enrollees would couldn’t afford the higher copays would be referred to a safety net of hospitals, doctors and other medical care providers for treatment.
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On the Net:
Bureau of TennCare, http://www.state.tn.us/tenncare/