DAY SEVENTY-FIVE: Why Support a Special Legislative Session

Ten Reasons to Support a Special Legislative Session to Restore TennCare

1. Tennesseans are suffering now, and some will not survive until January’s regular session.
2. Tennesseans value life and human dignity, and expect their elected leaders to do the same.
3. Tennessee has more than $400 million available in TennCare reserves and surplus funds – enough to restore coverage while management reforms are made.
4. The promised ``safety net’’ is not in place, and will be inadequate to care for a quarter-million chronically ill people.
5. The likely closure of rural hospitals, predicted by the Tennessee Hospital Association, will inhibit economic growth in those areas for years to come.
6. Without their medicines, chronically ill Tennesseans will see their health deteriorate, forcing them into hospital emergency rooms, nursing homes, and state Mental Health facilities.
7. There is nothing more ethical than preventing human suffering.
8. Federal officials have given three other states emergency relief for their Medicaid programs, and would do so for Tennessee.
9. The 97,000 ``medically needy’’ enrollees only have coverage until December 31, not until June 30, 2006 as budgeted by the General Assembly.
10. It is never too late to do the right thing.

What You Can Do:

Petition the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House and your State Representative and State Senator for a Special Legislative Session for TennCare: call 1-800-449-8366. Also contact U.S. Senator Bill Frist 1-877-431-7083.