State of Tennessee Sued for Depriving Residents of Medicaid Coverage

[kpete]

.................
WED JUL 23, 2014 AT 07:58 PM PDT

The Southern Poverty Law Center has just filed a class-action lawsuit against the state of Tennessee claiming damages for several Tennessee residents who are suffering health problems because of the refusal of Tennessee politicians to properly implement Medicaid.

From the SPLC news release:

According to the lawsuit, the state has violated federal law by discontinuing in-person help for applicants to its Medicaid program, TennCare. Instead, Tennessee forces applicants to apply for TennCare through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace website, which was not designed for this purpose, causing some residents – including those with serious medical conditions – to go needlessly without health care. To make matters worse, the state has stopped accepting TennCare applications in person.
Several people are listed as complainants in the case including an infant:

One plaintiff in the lawsuit is a baby identified as “S.G.,” who was born two months premature. He was born into CoverKids coverage, but Tennessee revoked it the moment he left the hospital. S.G. has not had coverage since leaving the hospital.

As a premature child, S.G. is at high risk of contracting the potentially fatal respiratory and airway virus RSV. He requires monthly shots – at $3,000 each – to prevent this illness. His parents can’t afford the treatment.

The specific complaint can be found here: http://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/tenn-care-splc-complaint.pdf

MORE:
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/news/splc-lawsuit-tennessee-deprives-residents-of-medicaid-coverage?utm_campaign=140723MCTD&utm_medium=email&utm_source=EOACLK
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/23/1316238/-State-of-Tennessee-Sued-for-Refusing-Medicaid-Expansion

[rurallib]

1. Yay for the SPLC.

I wish them - hope for - a smashing victory.

[sakabatou]

2. *crossing fingers*

[LuvNewcastle]

3. I hope the SPLC wins this suit.

If they do, they can sue other states who are doing the same thing. The states are being fully reimbursed by the federal govt. for their Medicaid expenses. These states are just being spiteful by denying coverage to people who need it.

[kpete]

4. LuvNewcastle

Exactly what needs to happen
Wash, Rinse, Repeat



peace to you,
kp

[Pharaoh]

11. I hope Wisconsin is next

Our Governor is a total Douche bag!

[DURHAM D]

5. Yeah... 'bout time.

[ladjf]

6. Good move! I hope the idea spreads to other states. nt

[HelenWheels]

8. Hope it moves to Wisconsin nt

[ladjf]

17. More good news for Wisconsin. Walker is behind in recent political pole. nt

[spooky3]

10. And Virginia

[A Little Weird]

7. What a great idea

I hope it works!

[riqster]

9. Brilliant. Framing the issue as it should be.

[WillyT]

12. K & R !!!

[kelliekat44]

13. Some America's wealthiest billionaires and families live in Tennessee. Now you know why. nt

[jwirr]

14. Let us hope that all the other states who did not expand medicaid have citizens who will file their

cases with this group.

[usaf-vet]

15. Please make Wisconsin your next case.

Scott Walker is only interested in running for president in 2016. He doesn't care about health care for those in need. Without the intervention of someone with the where with all he will continue to ignore the pleas to take medicaid funding.

Suing Wisconsin could have two outcomes….. 1. it would provided health care to those who need it…. and 2. It will expose Walkers to the country and stymie his run for president.

[KatyaR]

16. Can they please do this in Oklahoma?

It's ridiculous that we turned this down.

[RebelOne]

18. I wish our state of Georgia would sue Nathan Deal.

He refuses to extend Medicare to the uninsured and saying that Georgia cannot afford it.

[AllyCat]

19. My God how I despise these obstructionist politicians