Tennessee to Reopen TennCare Program for Low-Income Residents With High Medical Bills

Tennessee in February is expected to reopen a TennCare program that provides health care coverage for some low-income residents with high medical bills, the Tennessean reports. The program was frozen in April 2005 as part of a series of TennCare changes intended to save the state money. Those who qualify for the "standard spend down" category, previously known as the "medically needy" category, will receive 12 months of TennCare coverage. To qualify for the program, individuals must meet financial requirements and be older than age 65, blind, disabled or the primary caretaker of a child on TennCare. Tony Garr, executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, said the reopened program will have more restrictions on who can receive coverage. According to Garr, the biggest change will be that residents with medical bills older than 90 days will not be eligible for coverage, which he believes "will reduce the number of eligible people by half." The program also will cap enrollment at 100,000. Garr said enrollment likely will not reach the limit because "[t]here aren't very many people who are going to qualify" with the new restrictions. The program is expected to cost the state $109 million annually. The state applied to CMS in January 2005 for approval to reopen the program after state funds became available, according to Tracy Purcell, TennCare's director of eligibility services. Before the program was frozen, 97,000 state residents were enrolled, but 47,000 of those beneficiaries qualified for Medicare coverage. The 50,000 residents who remain in the program will need to reapply, Purcell said (Pinto, Tennessean, 1/8).