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Impacts
of Health Reform in Tennessee

Two recent studies,
released by The University of Memphis, have been released that examine
the upcoming changes in Tennessee's health care marketplace as a
result of the Affordable Care Act. Click below for each individual
study. Click here for a quick
summary of both studies.
The same research
team released an earlier study (Impacts
of Health Reform in Shelby County, Tennessee) in December 2010.
We're
thankful for their foresight in producing these much-needed reports
to help prove the case for health reform in our state.

A
Regional Training Meeting is being held near you!
We're providing
you with some in-depth info about health reform implementation and
how it is progresing in Tennessee. This year, we are focusing our
efforts on Tennessee's Health Insurance Exchange that opens for
business on January 1st, 2014. But a lot needs to happen between
now & then. Find out how health reform implmentation affects
you & your family, and how you can help ensure a consumer-friendly
insurance marketplace here in Tennessee.
Knoxville:
Saturday, March 3rd at Cherokee
Health Systems, 10am - 12pm
Nashville: Saturday, March 10th at East
Nashville Police Precinct, 10am - 12pm
Cookeville: Saturday, March 24th at Cookeville
Regional Medical Center, 10am - 12pm
Memphis: Thursday, April 12th at Prescott
Baptist Church, 10am - 12pm
Click
here
for materials from the Regional Training Meetings.
Tennessee's
Health Insurance Exchange

New
marketplce for heath insurance with more choices and better coverage.
In 2014, small-business
owners and uninsured individuals will shop for health insurance
through a new health insurance marketplace. Click
here to learn more.
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Because of THCC's
staff, Hank from Congressman Cohen's office says that we saved a
life. Listen to Hank's voice
message.
"Having
TennCare Matters," says Sandy.
Tennessee's
Medicaid Program Matters
"The
doctor told me that I had lung cancer and was dying," says
Sandy Hepler of Jackson County, Tennessee. "With the help of
the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, I was able to qualify for SSI
and get TennCare and treatment. Months and maybe years have been
added to my life. There is more work that I must do before I die.
To me, TennCare is the embodiment of compassion. I am so grateful
that TennCare would help an old man like me. TennCare has saved
my life," says Sandy.
Calls
are needed daily!
Ask your members
of Congress to protect low-income seniors, people who are disabled,
and children as they move forward to fix the country's debt problem.
It took years to create this debt problem and it will take just
as long and longer to fix it. Call toll-free
1-866-922-4970 to talk with a capitol operator and
ask to be connected with your U.S. Senator and Congressperson.
Thirty-four
prominent Tennessee organizations (34) have signed on as Partners
to the Coalition to Control Spending with Care. These organization
either represent or care for millions of Tennesseans. Click
here for a complete list of the 34 Partners.
You will need
to make three calls to talk with U.S. Senator Alexander, Senator
Corker, and your member of Congress. Click
here for the email explaining why it is important for
you to make the call. Click
here for talking points, and click
here for a copy of the newspaper AD that will appear in major newspapers
on Thursday.
The Tennessee
Health Care Campaign with the Tennessee Hospital Association has
led the effort to create the Coalition
to Control Spending With Care (CCSC). You can also
click here
to see how THCC is working with the CCSC.
We have
come together around a brief, yet important, statement:
"Controlling
healthcare spending over the long run is critical in securing our
country’s financial future. However, a narrow focus on just
federal health spending will cause serious harm to Medicare and
Medicaid patients and their families, while placing tremendous financial
pressure on states and providers. Instead, the patient must be at
the center of the discussion, and the focus must be on the drivers
of healthcare spending.
Public
policy should be aimed directly at:
- reducing
clinically avoidable spending in public insurance programs;
- increasing
patient-centered, integrated and coordinated care;
- aligning
provider incentives to achieve the best long term outcomes for
patients; and
- improving
administrative efficiency and ensuring adequate coverage across
the board for patients.
These policies
would yield powerful cost reductions at all levels of care. It is
critical that we all work together to produce a sensible solution
to the issue."
Call your two
U.S. Senators and your member of congress today: 1-866-922-4970
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Moving
Forward: Making Health Reform Work for Tennessee: Options and Opportunities
for 2012
Saturday,
June 11, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Meharry
Medical College, S. S. Kresge Learning Resource Center, 1005
Dr. D. B. Todd Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208
Click
here for the full program, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, and
fact sheets.
Featured
Speakers:
- Wendell
Potter, Former Communication Director for Corporate
America and author of Deadly Spin
- Anton
Gunn, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Regional Director
- Claire
McAndrew, Health Policy Analyst for Families USA
- Dave
Chandra, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- Janet
King , eHealth Director for Middle Tennessee
- Brian
Haile, TN Department of Finance and Administration,
Director, Insurance Exchange Planning Initiative
- Chris
Coleman, TN Justice Center, Staff Attorney, Constitutionality
of the Affordable Care Act.
Click
here: We have a great program lined up!
Registration:
$20 per person or $30 for couple - Registration included continental
breakfast that begins at 8 a.m., breaks, and lunch. Click
here to register.
Sponsorships
are at different levels: Help support this event
with your name, logo, and commitment to provide high quality health
care for all Tennesseans. Click
here to sign up as a sponsor.
Click
here to watch our video about this Annual Conference.
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HEALTH
REFORM HUB
THCC
Events Calendar
"Health
Reform Hits Main Street."
Confused
about how the new health care reform law really works? This short,
animated movie -- featuring the "YouToons" -- explains
the problems with the current health care system, the changes that
are happening now, and the big changes coming in 2014. Written and
produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Narrated by Cokie Roberts,
a news commentator for ABC News and NPR. Click
here to watch.
Trainings
for Health Reforms Hit Tennessee
Trainings
in Cookeville on 2/26, Nashville
on 3/5, Knoxville on 3/12, & Memphis
on March 26. Find out more about the new health law, how it will
help your family, and what you can do to keep the law from being
repealed. Click
here for more information and to register on line.
Creating
a Health Insurance Exchange in Tennessee
Sign
the Guiding Principles for
Establishing a Health Insurance Exchange in Tennessee
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The
Challenge
Much
of the health law's success or failure will be determined
at the state level. Even with federal guidelines, states will
have lots of flexibility. Tennessee's reform will be different
than Mississippi's. Will you still have your protections? |
Governance
States
will have four options for structuring its exchange: an
existing state government agency, a new agency, a nonprofit
entity, or a multi-state exchange.
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Model
Legislation
This model
legislation lists options that the state will have in governance,
certifying health plans, determining eligibility, participation
of brokers and agents, role of navigators, and much more. |
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Implementation
Work Groups
The
Affordable Care Act has many revolving parts. Join other volunteers
in understanding the options that we have in Tennessee. Click
one of the work groups to found out more. Click on one of
the names and let them know that you want to participate on
one of the work groups. You can live anywhere in Tennessee.
They will participate via toll free conference calls.
Medicaid
Expansion -
Dan Ramey
Insurance
Exchange - Tony
Garr
Behavioral
Health - Beth
Uselton
Health
Equity - Yolonda
McClain
Prevention
- Brad Palmertree
Waste
Reduction & Safety Assurance - Tony
Garr
Health
Information Technology - Tony
Garr |
Big
things happened on Sept. 23 for the people of Tennessee
- 115,000 children in TN cannot
be denied coverage by a health insurance company and the
premiums cannot be raised because of the medical condition
- 6.2 million Tennesseans cannot be dropped
by your insurance company because you get sick.
- 3 million Tennesseans with private insurance
plans will have preventive care coverage with no co-payment
when their plans are renewed.
- 1.2 million Tennesseans will not have to
worry about insurance companies imposing a life time limit
and annual limits will begin to go away.
- 600,000 young adults can stay on their
parents plan until they turn 26, even if they are not in
school and do not live at home.
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| It's
Time Again for
Workplace Giving
Do
you work for the state or federal government, Nashville government
or public schools, Vanderbilt University, or a public university
or technology center?
If
so, the annual employee (workplace) giving campaign will soon
be happening. Now is the time for you to choose your charity
giving for the coming year via automatic payroll deduction.
THCC
is a member of Community
Shares, which is a federation of Tennessee-based community
groups who have joined together to raise funds for social
change. We are asking that you please consider giving to us
through Community Shares during the workplace giving campaign.
We
know that times are tough for individuals, families, and nonprofit
groups. However, if you are able to give at this time, it
makes a lot of sense to give to us through Community Shares,
so you can stretch your giving dollars while supporting both
THCC and the progressive community.
Thank
you! |
Giving
to THCC through your workplace giving campaign is easy!
You
simply:
1) decide how much you want to give us per paycheck;
2) put our code on your workplace giving (designation) form;
and
3) give your form to your human resources person.
That's it!
For
just a few dollars each paycheck, you can help support THCC
and the important work we do. For instance, $2 per week =
$104 annual gift!
Workplace
giving campaigns and THCC's Codes:
Metro
Nashville Govt., Nashville Electric Service (NES), and Nashville
Metro & Davidson Co. Schools, and Vanderbilt University
and VU Medical Center
THCC Code: 11019
State
Employees and TECC
THCC Code: CS320
Federal
Employees and CFC
THCC Code: 16063
TN
Board of Regents
THCC Code: C02-019 |

THCC Speakers’
Network
Tennesseans Educating Tennesseans
About Health Care Reform
Celebrate the historic
health care law that is part of our American continuum of justice!
Be part of our
Speakers' Network and help schedule and make presentations
about what's in the new health reform law and why it's good for
Tennessee and America!
Health
Care Justice Organizations Unite to
Celebrate... Educate... Motivate... Activate!
From Memphis to Knoxville, Clarksville to Chattanooga
and places in between, 100 Tennesseans gathered in Nashville on
June 12 to celebrate the historic health reform victory and to kick-off
THCC's new public education initiative: Health Reform: What's
in It for Me & Tennessee?

THCC executive director Tony
Garr begins the day by congratulating the audience on their efforts
that resulted in the recent health care reform victory ... but reminded
them that the work is far from over!

Nationally recognized health
policy expert Gordon Bonnyman (who hails from Knoxville and lives
in Nashville) Wowed! the crowd with his knowledge and dry wit as
he discussed where we go from here.

Jessica Larochelle, Field Director
with Families USA, complimented THCC and its supporters as some
of the best and most dedicated groups in the country, and credited
us as being an important part of the health care justice movement.

The all-day Saturday event was
wall-to-wall discussion and learning, with nationally recognized
health policy experts, including pictured above: Larry Goldberg,
CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Jessica Larochelle
of Families USA; and U.S. Representative Jim Cooper.
In addition to very special
thanks to the guests mentioned above, THCC extends special appreciation
to the following people, who generously gave their time and talents
as guest speakers and workshop presenters:
-
Jim Duffett, Executive
Director Campaign for Better Health Care - Illinios
Dwight Lewis, Editor, The Tennessean
David Hilley, Director Access TN (high-risk pool)
Tobi Johnson, Tobi Johnson & Associates - Knoxville
Lucy Utt, Commission on Aging
Raphael Smith, Health Care Delivery Consultant & Youth Advisor
NAACP
Dave Buchanan, Hospital Quality & Efficiency Expert
Federal
Investment is an Outstanding Deal for Tennessee!
A $21.5 BILLION DEAL!
Tennesseans will receive security and peace of mind from the new
health care law, the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act. The guarantee of affordable,
quality coverage is essential, yet some worry about the costs.
The state of Tennessee has determined helping Tennessee families
and small businesses will cost the state $1.1 billion over 5 years,
or $220 million per year. This is a very modest investment given
that:
- All 6.1 million Tennesseans will benefit from the reform, including
650,000 who will gain coverage through the Exchange and expansion
of TennCare; and
- The federal government is paying for 95 percent of the expansion—to
the tune of $21.5 billion over 5 years ($4.3 billion per year
for 5 years). Put
another way: for each $1 of expansion cost, the federal government
pays 95 cents and the state pays 5 cents.
WE
DID IT!
The first major civil rights legislation of the 21st century
happens with the passage of national health care reform!

For more
pics and news links of these activities, visit "THCC
in the News" section.

"I hope for an America where we can all
contend freely & vigorously, but where we will treasure &
guard those standards of civility which alone make this nation safe
for both democracy & diversity."
- Sen. Ted Kennedy, "Truth & Tolerance in America"
speech, 1983
Ted
Kennedy's visionary speech on health care from 1978
Takin' It To The Streets
- 450+ Pro Reformers
Nashville, TN Aug. 13


THCC
volunteers and staff at the Families USA Health Action conference
in DC in January of this year.
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