While intended to help people, today’s Tennessean provides another clear example of how mismanaged Tenncare was . . . The Tennessean says:
Rates charged by lawyers working to limit TennCare — as much as $350 an hour — make enrollees such as Rosalie Huff, 62, of Nashville, bitter.
“$350 an hour is ridiculous, it’s just ridiculous,” said Huff, who remains on TennCare but cannot get all the drugs she needsbecause of new prescription limits — a limit won by the attorneys in federal court.
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“They’re paying the lawyers and what about people on TennCare? Lawyers should have gotten $120 per hour and given that other $200 to people on TennCare who really need it.”
Some lawmakers say they’re reserving judgment on those costs.
Are you kidding me? You start a program to manage health insurance for folks not covered under Medicaid and THEN you fail to manage the costs of the program across the board. You pay lawyers $350/hour. This is not only poor management. This is criminal. The individuals who have developed this Tenncare Leviathan should be held accountable.
But, this is a great example for – not only this state – but this nation. If you don’t have the money or a game plan, DON’T START ANOTHER GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. With no end in sight, we initiated this program in the ’90s with no game plan. We simply threw money at a problem. History has shown that throwing money at a program will NEVER work – not without clear directives and effective management.
Yesterday, Bredesen declared another band-aid solution to this problem. But, keep in mind that it is just that . . . a band-aid. Not a fix. And, until we get to the root of the problem . . . poor management and unsound fiscal practices . . . you cannot save this flawed program that is destined to be plagued with failure.
My wife and myself were in the so-called medically needy group. I have Lou Gehrigs disease and my wife is disabled with M.S. and chronic Depression,recurrant.We have a wonderful 21 year old son who is a colege senior. I have medicare, we were all cut from Medicaid. My wife and son have no insurance whatsoever. Last summer AARP did a story on my wife and myself claiming to have saved the 100,000 Medically needy.Barbara Basler did the story. Ithink she was really trying to help, but I spoke with the head Litagator Mrs. Siemon to see what she could do? so far I have heard nothing. I have appealed, but havent heard anything there either. I am dying and I have become very bitter towards this Administration, and several legislators and senators. I feel they just want this to go away, very few seem to care. I believe In God and have tried to be patient. My ALS limits me physically, but I am going to keep fihgting. I will not accept just meand my family being put back on, they MUST reinstate the entire Group.
my heart goes out to you greg, my dad is in similar prediciment. he has had quadruple bypass surgery, 2 massive heart attacks a couple of years later, and a stint put in since then. on top of that, 4 yrs ago he had a stroke. he is a real estate agent and is offered no group plan, so tenncare was all he had.he got kicked off, appealed and was turned down. luckily my wife is a phlebotomist and checks his blood every month. the doctor in columbia that treated him during his stroke was so great. she saw him in her office for free 3 times and gave him the medicine he needed in samples. one thing that bugs me is that yes, we had to get the budget in order, but what is more important, saving lives or paving highways every year. if you got a hole, patch it, don’t repave the whole damn highway.if you must cut tenncare, how about this. if you have a birth certificate or legal document that shows you to be a legal citizen, stand over here. everyone else stand over there