WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |TennCare cuts could affect tens of thousands

TennCare cuts could affect tens of thousands

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Ten of thousands of enrollees in the state Medicaid program TennCare could see benefits reduced under a plan to cut each state agency by 9%.

Word came late Wednesday afternoon, during Governor Phil Bredesen's annual budget hearings.

TennCare officials said everyone on the program "except pregnant women and children" would face some sort of benefit cap under the scenario of 9% cuts.

TennCare Director Darin Gordon estimated that 400,000 enrollees in the program of 1.2 million Tennesseans would be "exposed" to the benefit limits but said the number of those who actually exceed the benefit limits would be dramatically lower.

He said it's difficult to estimate the actual number because many enrollees are in multiple categories affected by the benefit limits.

Gordon said ballpark figures may run from 5,000 to 20,000 enrollees who would exceed the proposed benefit cap.

One example of the benefit limit would be a $10,000 cap on inpatient care for non-pregnant adults.

There are many other areas where TennCare would reduce spending to meet the proposed 9%.

Among them are reimbursement payments made to providers like doctors and hospitals.

During the hearings, the governor could not resist taking a shot at healthcare reform efforts in Washington, which could add a costly burden to state governments.

"I wish every member of Congress would sit in this room and listen to the real world of what is going on in Medicaid today," he said during the TennCare hearing with more than a hint of exasperation.

"How can you listen to this stuff and the stuff you are eliminating just to get through this, and then talk about adding a whole bunch of new expense on to the state," he continued before his voice trailed off and he just shook his head.