TennCare task force established

[Judi Lynn]

June 3, 2005

Sevier County
Updated: TennCare task force established

Sevierville, Sevier County (WVLT) - It's something most people say you just cannot live without, health insurance. There are currently 17,000 uninsured people in Sevier County, 5,700 are expected to be added to the list after TennCare downsizes.
(snip)

"We're coming together as a community to look for solutions in a common way so that we can address this issue and not just let people wind up on the street,” says Mickey Roberts, Sevier County Health Director.

Sevier County Health Director Mickey Roberts says the 5700 about to be cut off will certainly need support.

"They'll have no health insurance program to cover them, so they'll be looking to local safety nets and communities,” says Roberts.
(snip/...)

http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3423682

[Lars39]

1. Saw this article in Nashville City Paper yesterday...

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=41888

Health groups brace for Tenn Care influx
By Judith R. Tackett, [e-mail]
June 02, 2005



Local heath agencies that deal with the uninsured are bracing for an influx of patients costing millions of dollars once Tenn Care disenrollments get underway.

Davidson County’s Bridges to Care program is preparing for an estimated 15,000 uninsured people to add to their program as a result of the cuts.

The Nashville Consortium of Safety Net Providers consisting of about two dozen health organizations launched Bridges to Care in 2002 to link uninsured Davidson County residents to member clinics for ongoing primary health care.

Bart Perkey, director of the Bureau of Health Quality with the Metro Public Health Department, said the program currently serves about 25,000 uninsured patients.<snip>

More @ http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=41888

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While I commend their efforts, and might have to use their services myself someday,
I don't know how long counties are going to be able to keep up with the growing number of uninsured.
We need a national universal health one-payer system.