Tennessee State Representative Asks Governor To Extend TennCare Reverification Process

Tennessee state Rep. Kathryn Bowers (D) wrote a letter to Gov. Don Sundquist (R) on Oct. 21 requesting the state delay the planned Oct. 29 end of benefits for about 95,000 people enrolled in TennCare, the state's Medicaid managed care program, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports (Wade, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 10/22). The reduction in services results from a waiver approved earlier this year by the federal government that allows the state to restructure eligibility and benefits offered under TennCare (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 8/1). The waiver requires TennCare to reverify all non-Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries' eligibility; about 159,000 current beneficiaries are expected to be found ineligible under the new guidelines, according to state officials. The state has sent out three batches of letters reminding beneficiaries to complete the reverification process at their local Department of Health Services office within 90 days. The first batch of beneficiaries would be dropped from the program on Oct. 29 if they fail to respond. TennCare officials said they have received responses from only about 33% of the 577,500 beneficiaries notified. In her letter to Sundquist, Bowers wrote that she is "convinced that the state hasn't done enough to make [the reverification] process fair or workable," the Commercial Appeal reports. "I took it on myself to try and get the offices [of DHS on the phone], and for over two hours I was unable to talk to anyone here in Memphis. At one of the offices, I got a recording that repeated itself with no ability to leave a message. ... I do not see how we can consider this access," Bowers wrote. TennCare spokesperson Lola Potter said she did not know if the state would extend the reverification process and "would have to look to the governor for leadership," the Commercial Appeal reports (Memphis Commercial Appeal, 10/22).