TennCare change aids seniors

SuburbanCommunityNews.com
July 19, 2008

As people are living longer, the allocation of nearly $1.2 billion in annual TennCare funds has been the focus of greater scrutiny and now action has been taken.

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen - citing a personal experience with his mother - signed a bill into law that offers more options for seniors' care on June 18.

"This marks a major change in a big program," Bredesen said during the signing of the Long-Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008 at the J.K. Lewis Senior Center near downtown Memphis.The law makes it easier for state-allocated Medicaid funds, distributed via TennCare, to be accessed by home and community-based service health care providers for seniors and the disabled. Prior to the law, Tennessee nursing homes garnered 98 percent of long-term care funds.

Herbie Krisle, executive director of Page Robbins Adult Day Care Center in Collierville, sees first-hand how difficult it is for families to place loved ones in nursing homes.

"Governor Bredesen and the state Legislature have realized that there are many ways that service can be provided for individuals who need greater care than their family can provide," she said. "If, in fact, families will be able to see information from a single point of entry and learn of the options of care in their area, many will benefit."

Bredesen recalled when his mother, suffering from some health issues and unable to live alone two years ago, was "deathly afraid" of the suggestion of a nursing home. She even vehemently protested his suggestion that she move into a nearby, one-story house.

His mother was able to turn to extended family for assisted living help, but, Bredesen said, "for hundreds of thousands of people in Tennessee, that is not necessarily true, and this legislation is our way of trying to help them achieve the same kind of thing."

Several state congressmen attended the ceremony, including Sen. Mark Norris of Collierville. He applauded bipartisan efforts of the Legislature to pass the law, and said the bill "dovetails" recent legislation that freezes the property tax for senior citizens who own homes in Shelby County.

Rep. Lois DeBerry said the bill was "a long time coming. This will improve day-to-day options for seniors. There are a lot of people who could be served well at home," she said. "People are living longer and families are trying to figure out how to best take care of them."

Margot Seay, president of the Tennessee chapter of AARP, which had lobbied for the bill for several years, said the change accommodates seniors who "want and need a place like home, and we need to do everything we can to make sure this is possible."

Bredesen said he is aware that the nursing home industry has lobbied against and thwarted similar legislation in other states, such as Ohio. But in Tennessee, the industry has been supportive of the change.

"They see that this is an inevitable change and a bill good for the people," he said.