NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A family has been told to either put their son who suffers from muscular dystrophy in a nursing home or lose his home care.

Video: TennCare Forces Tough Decision For Family

For 30 years, Lee Murphey has lived at home and been cared for by his mother and the state.

But now the TennCare Managed Care Organization said Murphey can't have round-the-clock nurses anymore because it's cheaper for the state to move him to a nursing home in Chattanooga.

Murphey's doctor spoke out against TennCare's policy.

"Lee and his mother deserve some dignity. They have struggled with a disease that is devastating," said pediatrician Dr. Joe Little.

Murphey's doctor said he would still need 24-hour nursing care even if he is placed in a nursing home, since he could stop breathing at any moment.

If Murphey receives that care in the nursing home, how does TennCare save money?

"It doesn't make sense that he would get as good a care at a cost savings," said Little.

There's something else that puzzles Murphey's mother. TennCare said when it cut private duty nurses that those cuts would not apply to patients on a ventilator. A letter signed by TennCare's director last month said they would "exempt ventilator-dependent" adults.

Dr. Wendy Long clarified that people on a ventilator can still receive some private duty nurses, but only when it's cheaper than a nursing home.

"That's what we had spoken about, that ventilator dependent patients would be exempt from our decision to no longer cover a private duty nursing benefit," said Long.

Murphey's doctor said there has to be room to look at individual cases because not all health care decisions can be made from a boardroom.

TennCare said they had to cut private duty nursing because it can cost as much as $1 million a year for one patient.