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Our Party BlogHave your say about all things democraticJune 21, 2008GOV. BREDESEN, SEN. BERKE, REP. FAVORS, AND TN-ALFA CHAIR BAILES PROMOTE LONG-TERM CARE COMMUNITY CHOICES ACT
Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen visited Chattanooga's PACE Program Center for a ceremonial signing of the Long-Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008 on Wednesday, June 18. This act will offer Tennesseans alternatives to nursing home care. State Senator Andy Berke, State Representative JoAnne Favors, and Tennessee Assisted Living Federation of America Chair Dinah Bailes were present for the signing.According to the Cleveland Daily Banner: State Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, said the Long-Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008 "enhanced opportunities to offer assisted living and in-home care for our citizens without putting an additional burden on taxpayers." Berke emphasized that the new law shifts money from nursing homes to community and home care options for the elderly and disabled. According to a press release from the governor's office, the law changes the TennCare program so it more evenly distributes $1.2 billion between nursing homes and home- and community-based service providers. Before the new law, nursing homes received 98 percent of long-term care funds in Tennessee. "The effect of this legislation is truly significant, and I appreciate the bipartisan support of the General Assembly in making these changes," Bredesen said. "This is a wholesale approach to improving the way we handle long-term care in our Medicaid system. This legislation fundamentally restructures the way care is delivered in our state and will create positive changes for families in every county in Tennessee." House Bill 4144 passed 97-0. The Senate version, SB 4181, passed in the Senate by a vote of 32-0. According to a press release, these changes to the TennCare program, the state's largest single payer of long-term care services, allows $1.2 billion in TennCare funds to be more evenly divided between traditional nursing homes and home- and community-based service providers. Prior to the new law, nursing homes received 98 percent of long-term care funds in Tennessee. Post a Reply... Most Recent Posts: 10/06: Pat Branham's Blog 11: 21ST CENTURY LEADERSHIP AND JUDGMENT vs. 20TH CENTURY REGRESSION 10/02: FINAL COUNTYWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 10/02: SECOND POLL WATCH WORKSHOP AT HQ ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 6 10/01: Senator Berke Hosts Hearing on Crime in Chattanooga 09/29: Women for Obama: Rally & Debate Watching Party on October 2 09/23: Poll Watch Workshop at IBEW on Monday, September 29 09/19: Commissioner John Allen Brooks: Reckless Acts in Our Economy Call for Great Change in Leadership 09/18: Congratulations to our Executive Director Pam Ladd~She Will Serve on Sheriff's Civil Service Board 09/18: Urgent: Pick a Day to Join Us for Voter Registration (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) 09/16: They're here! Obama/Biden Signs, Stickers, & Buttons Are In! 09/15: Karl Rove: McCain went "too far" 09/15: PAT BRANHAM'S BLOG 9: A HILLARY SUPPORTER TRANSFORMS IN DENVER 09/09: Phil Bredesen Endorses Tuke for U.S. Senate, Asks for Your Help 09/08: PAT BRANHAM'S BLOG 8: REPUBLICAN TORPEDOES WITH LITTLE SUBSTANCE 09/08: FOUR BIG DEMOCRATIC EVENTS THIS WEEK 09/03: Pat Branham's Blog 7: MCCAIN MISJUDGMENT IN VP CHOICE 09/01: Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? 09/01: U.S. SENATE NOMINEE BOB TUKE ASKS US TO HELP HURRICANE GUSTAV EVACUEES 08/31: Justin Wilkins' DNC Convention Blog: Keep It Real 08/31: PAT BRANHAM'S DNC CONVENTION BLOG 6: HEROES AND A POLITICAL AWAKENING |
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