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House Republicans Approve TennCare Waiver

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NASHVILLE — State Rep. Tandy Darby, R-Greenfield, today announced Tennessee House Republicans passed HJR0018, a resolution approving the waiver for Tennessee’s shared savings proposal from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The waiver amendment is the first of its kind in the nation. The proposal rewards Tennessee for its efficient fiscal management and gives the state the ability to better administer TennCare from within Tennessee.
The shared savings plan allows Tennessee to keep a share of underutilized federal funds to be reinvested in health-related services for TennCare enrollees. These enhanced programs include prioritizing maternal health, serving additional needy populations, eliminating the waitlist for intellectual and developmental disability services, and addressing other state-specific public health crises.
This proposal gives Tennessee more control over TennCare, ensuring a higher quality of care and more efficient services for the approximate 1.4 million Tennesseans enrolled in the program. With the shared savings, TennCare will have the flexibility to add new populations and benefits without federal approval, adequately address fraud, more effectively manage the pharmacy program, and invest in health rather than simply healthcare.

“I am excited about this opportunity we have been given to improve healthcare for Tennesseans,” Darby said. “This unique proposal will give our state the ability to provide better services and care for those who need it most.”
The process to approve the proposed waiver began in 2019, when the Tennessee General Assembly passed HB1280 directing the governor to submit the waiver amendment and negotiate with CMS. The agreement will be implemented by TennCare upon approval, concluded the press release.
The Tennessee Justice Center released the following statement written by Michele Johnson, executive director.
“It is tragic that, in the middle of a deadly pandemic, our legislators have rushed to adopt this crass political gimmick. It distracts from their continued refusal to let 300,000 working Tennesseans receive the federally funded health coverage that former Governor Haslam’s plan would provide. Not a single other states has sought a block grant, and the nation’s most respected patient advocacy organizations all oppose it. The block grant puts at risk the health of the 1.4 million Tennesseans, including half of our children and two-thirds of our nursing home residents, who rely on TennCare. This is a dark moment for our state,” concluded the TJC statement.