FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     
TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2004     

GOVERNOR PROTECTS CHILDREN IN TENNCARE REFORMS
CHILDREN EXEMPT FROM COST SHARING AND DRUG EXCLUSIONS

Nashville-Governor Phil Bredesen today announced a plan to provide broader protections for children as part of the Administration’s effort to reform TennCare.

“One of the fundamental principles of our reform effort is to protect children,” Bredesen said. “With that in mind, we have decided to remove all cost sharing requirements for children in TennCare.” The announcement is good news for the families of 38,000 children who currently must pay premiums or co-payments.

Moreover, the Governor said, the Administration will exempt children from the provision in the new TennCare reform strategy that excludes gastric acid reducers and antihistamines from coverage.

Both protections will be included in the TennCare reform waiver document that will be offered for public comment later this week and submitted to the federal government later this year.

Joining Bredesen at the announcement was the leadership of the Children’s Hospital Alliance of Tennessee (CHAT), which represents Tennessee’s Children’s Hospitals and other providers of care to children. 

“I want to thank the children’s hospitals across Tennessee for their partnership and expertise as we move toward fundamental TennCare reform,” Bredesen said.  “Their input and expertise has been instrumental in our efforts to advance the reform strategy.”

Bredesen reiterated his desire to maintain coverage for as many TennCare enrollees as possible. “It is better to maintain broad enrollment with a reasonable set of benefits than to provide the platinum plan for some and nothing for the rest,” he said.

The Governor stressed that TennCare reform is crucial to the state’s financial stability, and to the state’s ability to make continued investments in vital priorities such as education.

Joining the Governor were J.D. Hickey, director of the Bureau of TennCare, and the following: Jim Shmerling, CEO of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Nashville; Mary Nell Bryan, President of CHAT, Nashville; Peggy Troy, CEO of Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center, Memphis; Susan Burkett, CAO of T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital, Chattanooga; and Bob Koppel, president of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Knoxville.

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