TennCare Changes Could Limit Access to Care for Breast and Cervical Cancer Patients

Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist's (R) plan to "restric[t] access" to TennCare, the state's Medicaid managed care program, could affect low-income women's ability to get treatment for breast and cervical cancer, the Nashville Tennessean reports. Tennessee participates in the CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, receiving a $1 million annual grant from the CDC to conduct sceenings on low-income, uninsured women. In the last four years, the state has tested 4,500 women, of whom 482 have needed treatment and, the Tennessean reports, were "encouraged" to enroll in TennCare to cover the costs. The enrollment process currently takes about 60 days, a period that Betsy Wood, Tennessee Hospital Association vice president for government affairs, said is already a "life sentence" for cancer patients. But Sundquist's proposal would -- among other changes -- allow TennCare open enrollment for new members to happen "only once a year, if at all, depending on funding," meaning that women diagnosed with cancer would have to wait for "the next enrollment date." According to state Sen. Roy Herron (D), a member of the state Legislature's TennCare Oversight Committee, said that as a result, "some women will die." He added, "That may be cost effective if your goal is to save money and not lives. But I wouldn't want my family members to wait up to 364 days to get life-saving care." According to Wendelyn Inman, director of the state's cancer detection program, the tests cost the state $27, while treating breast or cervical cancer costs an average of $11,000 to $15,000 per patient. Mark Reynolds, TennCare director, said that the administration will "consider less stringent enrollment requirements" for cancer patients (Lewis, Nashville Tennessean, 11/8).