02/04/10 - Madison County
More than one million
Tennesseans are on TennCare and a proposed cut to that
healthcare program has them worried about their future.
"Worried, nervous, shocked."
Those were the words that came to Erica Bradshaw's mind when
she heard TennCare could face serious cuts. Bradshaw works
but has not been there long enough to qualify for insurance.
She said, "Me and my husband are both working minimum wage
jobs. It's hard enough as it is without having to worry
about medical expense."
Governor Phil Bredesen is
proposing a $200-million cut in state funding to TennCare, a
$10-thousand annual cap per TennCare patient and an annual
bill of $150-million to hospitals. Hospital leaders say the
cuts would devastate them, but it is the $10-thousand-dollar
cap that has Bradshaw concerned. She said, "If you go to the
hospital one time, if you have to use the emergency room or
ambulance services, you could use it one time and you can be
at your limit."
Bradshaw explained that TennCare
has been vital for the care of her 10-month-old baby girl,
but with the proposed cuts, she feels state leaders do not
have families' interests at heart. She said, "The state
needs to realize that a lot of people don't have wealthy
jobs. It's hard enough to make ends meet right now."
Hospital leaders across the
state will be meeting with lawmakers next week in hopes of
changing the proposal. Bradshaw hopes an agreement will be
made.