He calls it the Tennessee Plan, but it sounds strangely just like the Arkansas Plan. Guy doesn't have an original thought in his head.

The speech was an embarrassment to our state. He likes more dollars but not more people covered (sorry, poor folks, just go away). He speaks in grand, vague terms about a Tennessee plan but failed to lead when the opportunity presented itself with the exchanges. He tossed in a Biblical reference, did the requisite Washington bashing, and flushed away needed health care dollars.

Lt. Governor Ramsey applauds rejection of Obama medicaid expansion

Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) said the following upon the conclusion of Governor Haslam's address to a joint session of the 108th General Assembly:

"I applaud Governor Haslam's decision to reject Obama's medicaid expansion. Without bold reform of the Medicaid program tailored to Tennessee's unique situation, there can be no compromise on this issue."

"Four out of every ten dollars the federal government spends comes out of the back pockets of future generations. Tennessee must receive assurances that have not been forthcoming. Governor Haslam has laid out a plan for what true health care reform looks like. I commend him for his continued thoughtful and measured approach to this complex issue."

Interesting that Haslam's proposal hinges on the federally mandated state health insurance exchange that he opted out of and that his party wants to outlaw in this state.

Tennessee Justice Center

3 minutes ago via mobile

So disappointed by Governor Haslam's announcement to refuse federal funds to expand coverage to working Tennesseans. To our clients with cancer and diabetes, I am so sorry.

If living were a thing that money could buy,
You know the rich would live
And the poor would die,

Basically, Haslam is trying to do what Arkansas is trying to do.

(link...)

Haslam still has a lot of unfinished homework and isn't getting good help from the Super!majority, so he's stalling to copy from other states. Maybe "destiny is totally in control of him." Maybe he's waiting for the kids at Berkeley to finish the policy simulator. (If you have a .gov email address, click here.)

Anyway, back to Gene Sperling:

Whether you’ve prepared enough to know the impact of every detail and potential option can make the difference between whether you’ve used your spot at the table to help or let down millions of people who are relying on you to look out for them.

Damn it. I was sure he'd step up on this one because of the impact to hospitals.

Also, it took him how many months to get to THIS?

(link...)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- State Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville issued the following statement in response to Governor Bill Haslam's rejection of federal funding to expand Medicaid coverage to as many as 300,000 working families in Tennessee: 

"A great opportunity to expand essential health coverage to 300,000 low-wage earners -- servers, store clerks, farm hands -- has been squandered because of extreme politics and a failure of leadership.

"Every Tennessean who works for a living deserves the dignity and security of being able to go the doctor when they get sick or hurt.

"The truest measure of a state is how we treat our most vulnerable citizens, and sadly, this is one more irresponsible decision in a line of many that punishes working and middle class families."

It would appear that Generation X will be the first generation since the great depression to watch their elderly die of poverty (malnutrition and preventable disease).

And it looks like Tennessee is going to lead the way for this next, great, Republican mandate. Thanks Governor Haslam. Looks like being a gravedigger and crematory operator is a job with a future in our great state.

The Arkansas plan for medicaid expansion is a gift from above for Mr. Bill.It gives him ENORMOUS cover. He can sit down with the feds and drive a hard bargain(makes him look tough). If the feds dont approve his plan, he can say "there not cooperating" (makes him look tough again, and makes the state a "victim" of the tyranical fed gov). If the feds say yes, and the legislature balks, he can say "I tried in good faith" (makes him look like the good guy,and absolves him of responsibility (in his mind, that is))If the legislature approves, he is a hero, a man that is able assert his control over the tea party crazies. Talk about being in the catbird seat!

Steve Ross has a map of struggling rural hospitals at risk of closing: Bill Haslam’s Death Panel

STATEMENT FROM COALITION FOR HEALTHY TENNESSEE ECONOMY ON TODAY’S MEDICAID DECISION BY GOVERNOR HASLAM

Wednesday, March 27, 2013 – After months of careful study, Governor Bill Haslam announced at a joint session his decision regarding Medicaid expansion. The Coalition for a Healthy Tennessee Economy released the following statement from its director:

"The goals of our coalition of businesses and business leaders remain the same and we don't feel that today's announcement has closed that door," said Dan Hogan, CEO of Medalogix and Nashville Business Journal’s 2012 Most Admired Small Business CEO. "From the beginning, our goals were to protect jobs, businesses and our state’s economy from the devastating cuts that threaten some rural hospitals in our state with closure if we rejected Medicaid expansion. If the Governor's plan accomplishes those goals, then we would certainly support it."

Newspapers who are supportive of Medicaid expansion:

The Tennessean
Knoxville News Sentinel
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Jackson Sun
Johnson City Press

Chambers of Commerce who are supportive of Medicaid expansion:

Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Tennessee Chamber of Commerce
Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce
Knoxville Chamber of Commerce
Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce
Jackson Chamber of Commerce
Johnson City Chamber of Commerce
Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce
Springfield Chamber of Commerce

Republican Governors who are supportive of Medicaid expansion:

Gov. Chris Christie (NJ)
Gov. Rick Scott (FL)
Gov. John Kasich (OH)
Gov. Rick Snyder (MI)
Gov. Jan Brewer (AZ)
Gov. Brian Sandoval (NV)
Gov. Susan Martinez (NM)
Gov. Jack Dalrymple (ND)

Democratic/Independent Governors who are supportive of Medicaid expansion:

Gov. Mike Beebe (AR)
Gov. Jerry Brown (CA)
Gov. John Hickenlooper (CO)
Gov. Dannel Malloy (CT)
Gov. Jack Markell (DE)
Gov. Neil Abercrombie (HI)
Gov. Pat Quinn (IL)
Gov. Martin O’Malley (MD)
Gov. Deval Patrick (MA)
Gov. Mark Dayton (MN)
Gov. Jay Nixon (MO)
Gov. Steve Bullock (MT)
Gov. John Kitzhaber (OR)
Gov. Lincoln Chaffee (IND-RI)
Gov. Peter Shumlin (VT)
Gov. Jay Inslee (WA)

Other individuals and organizations who are supportive of Medicaid expansion:

Fmr. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R)
Tennessee Business Roundtable
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
Captain D’s

Coalition for a Healthy Tennessee Economy

In a clip WVLT aired in its six o'clock broadcast, an unidentified woman commenting on this story said "there is no precedent for treating Medicaid like a state block grant," which really is what Haslam has proposed.

I can't believe he'll get any traction but, yeah, pretty worrisome.

Thank you, Gov @billhaslam for deciding not to pursue #Obamacare's Medicaid expansion in #TNbit.ly/10PFuTy

— Scott DesJarlais (@DesJarlaisTN04) March 27, 2013

Lie down with dogs...

Since Obamacare won't really get off the ground until next year, Haslam's approach, seemingly purely political, may actually be the best thing to do.

Any budget cutting saving isn't aimed at reducing the long term debt. It's aimed at trying to support Obamacare. Even liberal economists have acknowledged that paying for it will be worrisome. Take one of the worst economic downturns, add to it a massive government expansion, and you might have a case where Democrats wind up thankful that the GOP will get credit for slowing things down.

Steve Ross with more on the human impact...

Loudon County should not be on this list, Fort Loudon Medical Center is a hospital and is located in Lenoir City, Tn. in Loudon County.