Health Care Advocacy Updates
Below are the latest updates from THCC, sign-on opportunities, upcoming events, and news highlights of interest.

Scroll down to "Action Items and Input Opportunities" for info on submitting comments to TennCare concerning the Work Requirement waiver due October 26th!
THCC Updates
Back-to-school means a welcomed slowdown in calls on our 844 hotline, but that didn't mean we were without things to do!

In the month of September we:
  • Convened our Annual Health Care Advocacy conference, keynoted by Wendell Potter, founder of Tarbell.org. 135 people attended, including several state and federal legislators!
  • Submitted comments to the Department of Economic and Community Development on the Rural Hospital Transformation Act passed in the 2018 legislature.
  • Participated in a listening session hosted by a gubernatorial candidate on the issue of Rural Hospital closures.
  • Partnered with the Church and Society Committee of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, to host a public forum in Johnson City on Medicaid Expansion.
  • Answered 217 calls on our 844 hotline. Staff and volunteers assisted 453 people, enrolled 240 people in (mostly in TennCare).
The last 60 days, our 844 hotline received calls from 56 different counties!
Reports and Announcements
  • The Sycamore Institute published a report on Tennessee's Uninsured in 2017, providing analysis on how the uninsured rate in Tennessee increased from 9.0% in 2016 to 9.5% in 2017. Included in the report are the uninured for the metro areas. (Link)

  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and others involved in the United States Small-Area Life Expectancy Estimates Project (USALEEP) have a new data interactive allowing users to look up the life expectancy for their neighborhood and connect users with resources to promote healthy living. (Link)

  • Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance released the 2019 Health Insurance Carrier Coverage Map for health plans in all regions of Tennessee. (Link)
Events and Webinars
Please do your best to attend a public meeting and submit comments!
  • TennCare Public Meeting in Nashville to seek public comment on the work requirement waiver, Amendment 38, Monday October 8th, 11am Central at the Nashville Public Library, Bordeaux Branch located at 4000 Clarksville Pike in Nashville. The meeting is in the large meeting room. Feel free to download and use our talking points (Link)

  • TennCare Public Meeting in Knoxville to seek public comment on the work requirement waiver, Amendment 38, Tuesday October 9th, 1pm Eastern at the Knox Public Library, Burlington Branch located at 1614 Asheville Highway, in Knoxville. The meeting is in the community meeting room. Feel free to download and use our talking points (Link)

  • TennCare Public Meeting in Jackson to seek public comment on the work requirement waiver, Amendment 38, Thursday, October 11th, 11am Central at the Jackson-Madison County Library located at 433 Lafayette St., in Jackson. The meeting is in the program center. Feel free to download and use our talking points (Link)

  • Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance is holding a public meeting for insurance carriers to provide an overview of 2019 insurance plans on Wednesday, October 17th, 10am - 12pm at Davy Crockett Tower, Room 1-A located at 500 James Patterson Parkway. RSVP to Brian Hoffmeister at [email protected].

  • American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Tennessee is hosting a policy forum titled "Tobacco: Health, Economy, and Disparity on October 31st, 2018 from 9 - 11am at Spark Center Nashville. (Link to register)
Action Items and Input Opportunities
  • TennCare Work Requirement Waiver Comments Due October 26 - As legislatively mandated by the 110th General Assembly, TennCare is preparing to submit a waiver amendment to CMS seeking authorization to implement of work requirements for caregivers of children, pregnant women, and women with breast or cervical cancer. Please submit comments using our Action Center (link) or submit directly to [email protected]. For more information download our talking points (Link).

  • Question Candidates on Health Care - Health Care is the #1 issue voters are concerned about this election. Know where candidates stand on issues important to Tennesseans by asking these questions prepared by Dr. James Powers. (Link to document)

  • Protect Against Health Care Discrimination for LGBTQ Americans - Sign our petition to be delivered to Senators Alexander and Corker to maintain consumer protections for LGBT persons when accessing health insurance through the ACA marketplace or through their employers. (Link to Petition)
News of Interest