Gov. Bill Haslam
Called Insure Tennessee, the program rewards healthy behaviors, prepares members to transition to private coverage, promotes personal responsibility and incentives choosing preventative and routine care instead of unnecessary use of emergency rooms.
The governor announced that he plans to call a special session to focus on the proposal after the 109th General Assembly convenes in January.
“We made the decision in Tennessee nearly two years ago not to expand traditional Medicaid,” Haslam said. “This is an alternative approach that forges a different path and is a unique Tennessee solution. “
Haslam said the plan leverages federal dollars to “provide health care coverage to more Tennesseans, to give people a choice in their coverage, and to address the cost of health care, better health outcomes and personal responsibility.”
Health care advocates heavily criticized Haslam for refusing last year to agree to $1.4 billion in federal funds to cover about 180,000 uninsured Tennesseans under the terms the money was offered.
Nine other Republican governors have agreed to expanded Medicaid, and at least three more are in discussions with federal officials.
A Vanderbilt poll released this month said 56 percent supported expanding Medicaid for low-income residents.
