Get Covered Tennessee braces for ‘huge impact,’ possible layoffs as HHS cuts navigator funds

Family and Children’s Service is expecting an estimated $1.1 million cut in federal funding to operate its statewide health insurance enrollment network, according to a program director.

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Tennessee’s gubernatorial hopefuls received 7 health care questions. Some answered.

What you’ll read about: BirdDog sent seven questions to the Tennessee governor hopefuls to illuminate policy stances on a range of health care topics, including outpatient treatment for substance abuse, balance billing, whether Medicaid expansion would be a priority, and whether the state and/or employers have an obligation to help with access to coverage.
Updated at 6 p.m. on 4.19.2018 to reflect additional responses.

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Ranking puts suboxone at top spot in Tenn., raising questions about how people fill medications and data access

Suboxone, a narcotic film strip used in medically-assisted treatment for opioid abuse, ranked number one in a recent list of Tennessee’s most prescribed drugs. But the finding may raise questions about data access and how Tennesseans fill the medication, said experts with different data sets.

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The TennCare work requirement bill isn’t just about work — it spotlights how lawmakers are bolstering the dependence on jobs for health care access

What you’ll read about: The state legislature is poised to instruct TennCare to negotiate a work requirement — an unprecedented approach to Medicaid eligibility that raises questions about what happens in times of an economic downturn and how to track hours as the number of people in gig-type jobs rises.

Implementing a work requirement in a state with stringent eligibility rules spotlights a central question the U.S. is grappling with: what happens if insurance is tied to employment, but not all employers offer affordable coverage?

The graphic above: TennCare covered 854,666 women in January 2018, compared to 621,708 men. Data from TennCare.

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