Tennessee Disability Coalition News Blog

Adult siblings (ages 18 and older) of Tennesseans with disabilities are invited to take part in a survey available online at https://kc.vanderbilt.edu/SiblingResearch. You can also request a hard copy by writing to SiblingResearch@vanderbilt.edu or calling (1-888) 322-5339.

Supported by a grant from the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, the survey is being conducted by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service. The study’s purpose is to improve understanding of siblings’ relationships and to guide development of policies and programs to support families. Siblings ages 18 to 30 who complete the survey also may be invited to be interviewed, if they give permission to be contacted when they complete the survey.

Legislation is moving forward that will exempt many private health care plans from providing basic commonsense health care services. As a result families may soon lose access to those basic services.

The legislation is Senate Bill 1319 and House Bill 1726 and it is up for a vote in the House Commerce Committee on Tuesday morning so we need your calls, e-mails and faxes asap asking legislators to oppose the legislation.

Under this legislation health insurers can avoid providing:

• Certain therapies for children with Autism (Autism Equity Act)
• Early detection of prostate cancer
• Mammography screening
• Reconstructive breast surgery
• Bone Mass Measurements
• Coverage of mental health services
• Early detection of colorectal cancer
• Treatment by licensed audiologists and speech pathologists
• Newborn children coverage
• Equipment, Supplies and Outpatient services for person’s with diabetes
• And much much more

House Commerce Committee

Click on a member’s name to get their contact information.

Charles Curtiss, District 43: White and Parts of Putnam and Warren Counties

David Shepard, District 69: Dickson and part of Hickman County

Curt Cobb, District 62: Bedford and parts of Lincoln and Rutherford counties

John DeBerry, District 90: Part of Shelby County

Joanne Favors, District 29: Part of Hamilton County

Dennis Ferguson, District 32: Roane and part of Loudon County

Craig Fitzhugh, District 82: Lauderdale, Crockett and part of Dyer County

Brenda Gilmore, District 54: Part of Davidson County

Jim Hackworth, District 33: Part of Anderson County

Bill Harmon, District 37: Sequatchie, Van Buren, Grundy, and Marion Counties

David Hawk, District 5: Unicoi and part of Green County

Brian Kelsey, District 83: Germantown, Part of Shelby County

Susan Lynn, District 57: Part of Sumner and Wilson Counties

Jon Lundberg, District 1: Part of Sullivan County

Judd Matheny, District 47: Coffee and part of Warren County

Joe McCord, District 8: Parts of Blount and Sevier Counties

Gerald McCormick, District 26: Part of Hamilton County

Steve McManus, District 96: Part of Shelby County

Richard Montgomery, District 12: Part of Sevier County

Joe Pitts, District 67: Montgomery County

Dennis Roach, District 35: Claiborne, Grainger, and part of Jefferson County

Gary Rowe, District 87: Part of Shelby County

Charles Sargent, District 61: Part of Williamson County

Park Strader, District 14: Part of Knox County

Curry Todd, District 95: Part of Shelby County

Joe Towns, Jr., District 84: Part of Shelby County

Eddie Yokley, District 11: Cocke and part of Green County

This bill could also come up in the full Senate any day. So it would also be helpful to call your senator and ask him/her to vote against SB 1319. To locate your senator visit: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/senate/members/smembers.htm