In a most unusual year, Governor Lee ended the night’s 2021 State of the State address by delivering a hopeful message to legislators. “We see things more clearly…” he said, “(we) see the needs of our neighbors around us, every single one of them and commit to serving them”. The Governor’s address at War Memorial Auditorium laid out Lee’s budget and policy priorities for 2021, including investments in education, mental health services, foster care and adoption and economic recovery. 

The first of our weekly policy updates during legislative session 2021, check out information on our policy priorities, impressions about the goings on at the Capitol and the newest information about our grassroots initiatives.

The 2021 Session

The Tennessee Disability Coalition offers these comments on proposed rules to carry out the Katie Beckett Program as defined by amendment 40 to the TennCare demonstration waiver. Our comments are based on the recommendations and input we received from our member organizations and the families that we serve.
 

After an unpredictable and unprecedented 2020, Governor Bill Lee called the heads of the state agencies together over the past few weeks to talk budget for 2021. After state tax revenue fell 40% in April, fears grew on capitol hill that the state was in for some hefty belt-tightening in 2021. With this in mind, Governor Lee asked state agencies in May to construct and propose a 12% budget reduction plan for FY 2020-2021. 

1990 was an important year...the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips was the top single on the Billboard Charts, and the Tennessee Disability Coalition was formed.

Your input matters! These tips from families can help as you craft your own comments on the TennCare/DIDD plan to integrate Medicaid Services. Comments are due November 13th, 2020.

To read and review the plan, go to:  https://tn.gov/didd/for-consumers/didd-waiver-information/idd-program-integration.html

TennCare and the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) propose integrating the Medicaid Long-Term Supports and Services they provide. As with any change, this will bring a number of opportunities and challenges. It will put Medicaid insurance companies Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health Care and Amerigroup (called Managed Care Organizations) in charge of DIDD waiver services.

Tennessee has issued revised guidance prohibiting healthcare providers from discriminating against people with disabilities even when public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic necessitate rationing of scarce resources.

  In Chattanooga, Tennessee, a local hair salon welcomes and accommodates all customers. One satisfied customer enjoys going to the salon to get her hair done without having to worry about whether or not the shop is accessible. 

The 111th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned sine die in the early hours of June 19th after the House and Senate resolved their differences on the Appropriations, Budget Implementation and Bond bills. The bills are much the same as the bills passed last week by the Senate, incorporating some of the ideas included in the House bills passed Monday. The 2021 budget is 29.5 billion dollars.