Hello, this is State Senator Paul Bailey with an update regarding legislation I filed last week to require the State to request a Medicaid block grant from the federal government to give us the flexibility needed to address the health care needs of Tennesseans.

The federal government has steadily increased requirements on States in regard to populations and services that must be covered by TennCare, which serves the State’s Medicaid population.

These federal regulations block or severely limit a state’s ability to innovate and make changes designed to control cost or promote personal responsibility.

While the stated goal of Obamacare was to reduce costs and increase access to care, out of pocket expenses have greatly increased to patients in the form of higher deductibles and soaring premium cost. And even with rate increases, Tennessee’s individual insurance market providing Obamacare has struggled.

States that accept the block grants would be able to build integrity into their Medicaid programs, and would have the regulatory flexibility to design innovative plans that work best for their citizens, instead of one size fits all plan from Washington DC.

It would also provide flexibility to address Tennessee’s marketplace needs. This will help stabilize the state’s individual markets by focusing on key areas that can provide immediate assistance, essential health benefits, special enrollment periods, and grace periods.

We need an effective and innovative plan specific to the health care needs of our citizens. That plan should lower cost and increase access to care while putting patients in charge of their own health care.

Since Tennessee is one of the best financially managed States in the nation, this legislation will give Tennessee the ability to bring our financial success story to the state’s TennCare program. Until next time, this is Senator Paul Bailey.