Remote Area Medical Blount Co. Expedition

Interview with Ron Brewer, Tennessee Operations Director at the time, at a Blount Co. RAM clinic in 2008.

Haslam is pathetic! He is the worst TN. governor in history. The other Republican governors did not have a super majority to help them wreck people's lives.How can we stand another 5 more years of this elitist jerk!

Opie can expect to be justly pilloried by Comedy Central soon.

That's the first thing I thought of when I heard yesterday that RAM would be here today - wonder how many fewer people would have to rely on RAM if Tennessee would participate in the Medicaid extension?

I love my native state, but somedays I'm ashamed of it. Today is one of those days.

While doing ACA enrollment events, we called this phenomena the "Haslam chasm". It was quite large and gaping, many of those that arrived to get affordable insurance fell into that hole and there was not much we could do.

However, since the TennCare department in Nashville announced that anyone wanting to enroll in TennCare, it had to be done online at healthcare.gov. So enrollment events are helping everyone complete an application. What is uncertain is what happens when the ACA says they are eligible for Medicaid and sends the info to the state. I don't think the state knows what they will be doing with all these names being referred via the federal site. They have 45 days to process the applications and if they don't get it done in that time frame, the person is automatically enrolled, at least for a period of time.

Updated with video from Gloria...

I like what Gloria is doing.

The RAM events are unique opportunities to gather information about the people attending them. And specifically health and health care issues. A gold mine I would think to get the details and perspective on what you actually need to diminish the need.

It's time to establish a two-tierwd poverty rate based on a person's access to health insurance. For instance, the effective poverty rate of someone with access to insurance through the ACA would be about 38% less than those who do not. If Haslam wants to keep playing chicken by holding this over our states poor, then it's time for Obama to up the stakes.

Thank you, Gloria

Thanks, Gloria. So sad that someone who works for a living can't afford to eat, much less have health insurance.

I've always considered Big Jim a crook and voted against Bill for mayor for that reason. After he became mayor I was overjoyed with the growth of downtown and gave Bill my vote for governor. Within weeks after he took office I realized my mistake. I promise not to make that mistake again.

From Health Affairs …

Statistics representing estimated impact in several categories.

Opting Out Of Medicaid Expansion: The Health And Financial Impac

From The Institute for Southern Studies
The death toll from blocking Medicaid expansion