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TennCare Patients, Family Members Testify
Limits Put On Home Nursing Benefits
POSTED: 1:37 pm CDT September 30,
2008
UPDATED: 6:33 pm CDT September 30,
2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- On Tuesday, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen spoke out about changes in TennCare and in-home healthcare services. He said companies and individuals are abusing the program, but advocates keep hoping for a change of heart.
Video: Governor Makes Changes In CoverTNThe Legislature voted to make cuts in the program by reducing the amount of in-home care. Earlier this month, TennCare put limits on home nursing benefits, meaning patients who once had 24/7 care at home now have nurses for, at most, 40 hours a week.A letter showed up in the mailboxes of 1,000 people who have private-duty nurses paid for by TennCare. The letter said the hours those nurses can spend with a client will be reduced to save money. Some said the cuts will force them into nursing homes.Some TennCare clients demanded Tuesday that Tennessee lawmakers say "no" to the cutbacks."My son needs his nurses to live," said Marita Golden. "I need his nurses to live."Bredesen said TennCare's budget-tightening is necessary to save the state money and get a handle on abuse. He spoke of a couple with private-duty nurses paid for by TennCare."They live in the same home together,” said Bredesen, “and each of them has a 24/7 private duty nurse sitting in their living room. I mean, it’s clearly -- at $325,000 a year for each of those nurses. I mean, it’s clearly being used in an abusive way."But advocates said the many are suffering for the few.Tony Garr, executive director of Tennessee Health Care Campaign, testified before the Tennessee Oversight Committee about the changes in care. Lawmakers are limiting home health nursing to no more than what it would cost to care for a patient in a nursing home."We think that these new rules,” Garr said, “the way TennCare is doing that, doing the cuts, are not very kind, that they don’t take into consideration some of the needs of families.”In-home care advocates have been traveling to various Tennessee cities, hoping to get changes to the plan. Cuts aren't scheduled to officially begin until June of next year.The governor said the TennCare budget for in-home nursing has grown by 53 percent since 2000 to a figure of $243 million this year.
Video: Governor Makes Changes In CoverTNThe Legislature voted to make cuts in the program by reducing the amount of in-home care. Earlier this month, TennCare put limits on home nursing benefits, meaning patients who once had 24/7 care at home now have nurses for, at most, 40 hours a week.A letter showed up in the mailboxes of 1,000 people who have private-duty nurses paid for by TennCare. The letter said the hours those nurses can spend with a client will be reduced to save money. Some said the cuts will force them into nursing homes.Some TennCare clients demanded Tuesday that Tennessee lawmakers say "no" to the cutbacks."My son needs his nurses to live," said Marita Golden. "I need his nurses to live."Bredesen said TennCare's budget-tightening is necessary to save the state money and get a handle on abuse. He spoke of a couple with private-duty nurses paid for by TennCare."They live in the same home together,” said Bredesen, “and each of them has a 24/7 private duty nurse sitting in their living room. I mean, it’s clearly -- at $325,000 a year for each of those nurses. I mean, it’s clearly being used in an abusive way."But advocates said the many are suffering for the few.Tony Garr, executive director of Tennessee Health Care Campaign, testified before the Tennessee Oversight Committee about the changes in care. Lawmakers are limiting home health nursing to no more than what it would cost to care for a patient in a nursing home."We think that these new rules,” Garr said, “the way TennCare is doing that, doing the cuts, are not very kind, that they don’t take into consideration some of the needs of families.”In-home care advocates have been traveling to various Tennessee cities, hoping to get changes to the plan. Cuts aren't scheduled to officially begin until June of next year.The governor said the TennCare budget for in-home nursing has grown by 53 percent since 2000 to a figure of $243 million this year.
Previous Stories:
- September 30, 2008: Bredesen Announces Improved Cover Tenn. Benefits
- September 22, 2008: TennCare Clients’ Benefits Cut Back
- August 19, 2008: Over 10,000 Patients To Lose 24-Hour Nurse
- July 24, 2008: TennCare Forces Tough Decision For Family
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