SPLC lawsuit: Tennessee deprives residents of Medicaid coverage

[babylonsister]

07/23/2014
SPLC lawsuit: Tennessee deprives residents of Medicaid coverage


Earlier this year, a high blood pressure episode put April Reynolds in the hospital. In fact, doctors told the mother of three that she could have died if she had waited any longer to seek medical treatment.

Reynolds put off going to the hospital because she didn’t have a way to pay for medical treatment. She had been trying to get coverage through Tennessee’s Medicaid program, but the state’s policies have deprived thousands of people like her the coverage they need even though they are eligible.

Now, Reynolds owes $20,000 in medical bills and needs monthly checkups. But she has been to the doctor only once since the episode because she’s afraid of accruing more debt.

Today, the SPLC filed a federal class action lawsuit against Tennessee for adopting policies that break its decades-old promise of health care to Reynolds and other vulnerable residents.

“Tennessee officials are sacrificing the health of the state’s most vulnerable citizens just to score political points,” said Sam Brooke, SPLC staff attorney. “They’re throwing a monkey wrench into their own Medicaid program so they can demonize the federal government. People in dire need of medical care are being sacrificed.”

snip//

According to the lawsuit, the state has violated federal law by discontinuing in-person help for applicants to its Medicaid program, TennCare. Instead, Tennessee forces applicants to apply for TennCare through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace website, which was not designed for this purpose, causing some residents – including those with serious medical conditions – to go needlessly without health care. To make matters worse, the state has stopped accepting TennCare applications in person.

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http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/news/splc-lawsuit-tennessee-deprives-residents-of-medicaid-coverage#.U9AFJhq9egA.facebook

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. I heard this story on NPR this a.m., and couldn't believe what I was hearing. These red state....

assholes are trying to shift the burden for all government run healthcare to Fed, which is so hypocritical, because they claim to despise the largesse of the federal government.