Bill HaslamNASHVILLE, Tenn. - Gov. Bill Haslam said today that he's talked with nine Republican governors who have expanded Medicaid for low-income people in their states, and he plans to announce what he will do by the end of the month.
Haslam has been heavily criticized for refusing last year to agree to $1.4 billion in federal funds to cover about 180,000 uninsured Tennesseans under the terms the money was offered.
The Republican governor wrapped up budget hearings Friday, and among the last was TennCare, Tennessee's version of Medicaid. After the TennCare hearing, Haslam told reporters that he talked with Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell this week and that he plans to make a decision by Christmas.
Haslam has said he's trying to get federal officials to approve an alternative plan, one that is acceptable both to Washington and to largely skeptical Tennessee lawmakers, who must approve any deal under a law passed earlier this year. He said the GOP states that expanded Medicaid have been part of the conversations with Washington.
"As we're talking with Washington, we're trying to find out, here's what they've proposed, what are you likely to approve here?" Haslam said.
Health care advocates are becoming increasingly frustrated with Haslam's delay, particularly because those nine Republican governors expanded Medicaid and at least three more are in discussions with federal officials.
"Other Republican governors have successfully negotiated deals ... using the federal dollars to fund their plans," said Michele Johnson, executive director of the Tennessee Justice Center, a leading advocate for enrollees in TennCare. "They have shown that it is possible, and that Tennessee should be able to do the same thing."
Read more in tomorrow's Times Free Press.