Tennessee House Republicans push for delay of TennCare’s main contracts

House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, opposes extension of TennCares primary contracts as part of a continued effort to award a separate health care company a contract after it lost a bid. / Tennessee Lookout Photo by John Partipilo House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, opposes extension of TennCares primary contracts as part of a continued effort to award a separate health care company a contract after it lost a bid. / Tennessee Lookout Photo by John Partipilo

By Sam Stockard / Tennessee Lookout October 30, 2023 5 min read

Tennessee’s House speaker is opposing extension of TennCare’s primary contracts as part of a continued effort to award a separate health care company suing the state after it lost a contract bid two years ago.

The Tennessee legislature’s Fiscal Review Committee delayed a vote on extending TennCare’s primary contracts as House Republican leaders sought more time for due diligence to review the matter and possibly bring Rhythm Health into the realm.

Postponement comes amid a lawsuit filed by Rhythm Health against the state in Davidson County Chancery Court after the company failed to win one of the TennCare managed care contracts two years ago.

It then lost two appeals and a legislative effort to hand it a contract. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, sponsored the bill to give Rhythm, a subsidiary of Centene Corp., a fourth state contract with TennCare even though it lost out in the bidding.