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WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam says the state will not set up a state-based healthcare exchange. The decision Monday comes in response to a provision in the federal Healthcare Affordable Care Act which allowed states to operate its own system.
"If it's a business decision I wouldn't go into a partnership with somebody who wasn't telling me everything I needed to know," said Haslam.
In making his decision, the governor says he felt Tennessee could operate the exchange better than the federal government but he remained concerned about what he says is a lack of clarity in how the program would work.
Haslam says his office has received 800 pages of new rules just since the November election.
"People think I'm saying this for political benefit but I'm not. I'm more and more convinced that they are making this up as they go," said Haslam.
The federal government says it will set up healthcare exchanges in states that opt not to.
The Obama Administration says the healthcare exchanges will allow people and small businesses to buy healthcare coverage from competing private companies.
Health Care experts describe the program as like a "Travelosity" for insurance.
There are still questions how a federally run exchange will differ from an state run program.
Brad Palmertree with the Tennessee Health Care Campaign says the federal program could prevent insurance companies that only operate in Tennessee from taking part.
He also says it might be more difficult for consumers to voice their problems.
"My voice as a consumer is louder here at the state level than DC," said Palmertree.
Tennessee still has the option of starting a state run exchange at a later date.
Haslam did not say if he's going to support another key part of the Affordable Health Care Act.
States will eventually have to decide whether to opt-in to an expansion to Medicaid.
In Tennessee that could bring coverage to an estimated 240,000 uninsured poor.
Palmertree says that is the more important health care decision the governor has to make.
"The exchange is going to happen regardless but the people who need insurance the most who might benefit from medicaid they're the ones who are gonna potentially miss out," said Palmertree.
Some have speculated it would be difficult for the Governor support both the expansion of Medicaid and a state run health exchange.
Haslam says the decisions are completely separate.
"If it's a business decision I wouldn't go into a partnership with somebody who wasn't telling me everything I needed to know," said Haslam.
In making his decision, the governor says he felt Tennessee could operate the exchange better than the federal government but he remained concerned about what he says is a lack of clarity in how the program would work.
Haslam says his office has received 800 pages of new rules just since the November election.
"People think I'm saying this for political benefit but I'm not. I'm more and more convinced that they are making this up as they go," said Haslam.
The federal government says it will set up healthcare exchanges in states that opt not to.
The Obama Administration says the healthcare exchanges will allow people and small businesses to buy healthcare coverage from competing private companies.
Health Care experts describe the program as like a "Travelosity" for insurance.
There are still questions how a federally run exchange will differ from an state run program.
Brad Palmertree with the Tennessee Health Care Campaign says the federal program could prevent insurance companies that only operate in Tennessee from taking part.
He also says it might be more difficult for consumers to voice their problems.
"My voice as a consumer is louder here at the state level than DC," said Palmertree.
Tennessee still has the option of starting a state run exchange at a later date.
Haslam did not say if he's going to support another key part of the Affordable Health Care Act.
States will eventually have to decide whether to opt-in to an expansion to Medicaid.
In Tennessee that could bring coverage to an estimated 240,000 uninsured poor.
Palmertree says that is the more important health care decision the governor has to make.
"The exchange is going to happen regardless but the people who need insurance the most who might benefit from medicaid they're the ones who are gonna potentially miss out," said Palmertree.
Some have speculated it would be difficult for the Governor support both the expansion of Medicaid and a state run health exchange.
Haslam says the decisions are completely separate.
Monday, December 10 2012, 08:58 PM CST
Tennessee News
Updated conservatorship statute effective July 1
May 21, 2013 12:49 GMT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Gov. Bill Haslam has signed into law revisions to the state conservatorship statute.
The law allows the court to appoint a conservator to manage the assets of a person a judge finds unable to handle his or her own affairs.
State Rep. Andrew Farmer, a Sevierville Republican, told The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/1183hjy ) the intent of the bill he sponsored in the House is to make sure people aren't being taken advantage of.
The bill sprang from a series of hearings statewide by the Tennessee Bar Association. They revealed there were no uniform procedures for placing a person's assets under a conservator on an emergency basis.
The changes take effect July 1.
Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com
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