Health Community Reacts to Insure Tennessee Failure

For more than two years, hospitals in this state have advocated and worked hard to find a way to provide health care coverage for the uninsured of Tennessee. We are disappointed. I think the governor was very careful in his consideration to protect the state budget along with a large number of Tennessee citizens who have health problems. The lawmakers have a difficult job, trying to balance the needs of citizens against the cost to the state. But this seemed straightforward to me. It was not going to cost the citizens of Tennessee anything, and it dooms many citizens to being higher risk. It will cost us more in the long run."

— Dr. Gene Huffstutter, president, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society

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We are disappointed at today’s outcome of the debate regarding Insure Tennessee in the General Assembly.

TMA supported Governor Haslam’s plan because it offered a viable alternative to traditional Medicaid expansion and had potential to help improve our public health and contain costs.

We have now missed an opportunity to help hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans who need access to quality, affordable medical care.

Douglas J. Springer, MD, FACP, FACG

Kingsport Gastroenterologist

President, Tennessee Medical Association