Tennessee Disability Coalition News Blog

When: Tuesday, September 30

Where: Inside Legislative Plaza, Nashville

Schedule of Events

10:30 AM Appeal Training - Come to cafeteria

11:30 AM Lunch

12:30 PM Press Conference

1:30 to 4:00 PM TennCare Legislative Oversight Committee Meeting

What you need to do:

Plan on attending this training and Legislative Oversight Committee Meeting
Call your state legislators today and tell them your story. Everyone has one state senator and one state representative. Invite them to come to your home and understand the importance of home health care. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/
Ask your legislator to attend the TennCare Oversight Committee meeting even if he/she is not on the committee. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/
Call the members of the Oversight Committee and ask them to attend and learn more about this important issue.If you live in one of the counties they represent, be sure to call them ASAP.

What’s wrong with the reduction in home health and nursing services at this time?

The time given families to plan for other alternatives is not sufficient;
More flexibility is needed in the home health benefit in order to provide families with the care they need to keep their loved one at home. This flexibility needs to reflect the medical needs of the families.
Some people may be better off in a nursing home, yet they need more time to make this transition. Nevertheless, families need more options that are currently not available. Why now? Why not wait until July 1, 2009, when more options will become available under the Long Term Care Community Choices Act?
Care needs to be individualized. There are many different patients with serious medical needs. Putting everyone with very different and very serious medical needs into just two categories with very limited hours will not meet the needs of many patients. Click here for questions and answers about appealing.

Now take action and call your legislators and members of the TennCare Oversight Committee listed below:

Senator Diane Black, Robertson and part of Sumner counties

819 Plantation Boulevard, Gallatin, TN 37066

Senator Charlotte Burks, Cumberland, Jackson, Overton, Pickett, ?Putnam, and White Counties

18131 Crossville Highway, Monterey, TN 38574

Senator Rusty Crowe, Washington and Carter counties

808 East 8th Avenue, Johnson City, TN 37601

Senator Raymond Finney, Blount and Sevier counties

2119 Middlewood Drive, Maryville, TN 37803