Fighting for Continued "in-home" Care, Two Patients Challenge TennCare Cuts That Would Deny Medical Coverage to 1,000 Tennesseans
Legal Services E-lert

Date of E-Lert – 09/26/08

Bibliographic Info:
Author: Heather Mullinix
Source: “Patients Feel Cuts from TennCare,” Herald-Citizen (TN)
Date: September 18, 2008

Due to health conditions, both David Scott and Christina Fullington are confined to their beds, receiving a great deal of at-home care.  According to the Herald Citizen, "Both patients worry this will all change with cuts to private duty nursing benefits scheduled to start this week.  Neither wants to go into a nursing home and worry they would not receive the level of care they needed in an institutional setting . . . .  Both patients received letters from TennCare [Tennessee's Medicaid managed care program,] informing them they would be seeing a reduction in their benefits . . . . [T]he proposed changes are expected to impact about 1,000 enrollees receiving benefits beyond the new coverage limits . . . .  [Scott and Fullington, both represented by the Legal Aid Society, are appealing the benefit reduction and] asking TennCare to reconsider its decision in these and other cases in the area . . . .  [Scott] and [Fullington] hope TennCare will allow their in-home care to continue while the appeals are pending, but there is no guarantee of that at this time.  [Legal Aid Society attorney William] Bush said there were considerations of complying with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, which calls for a public entity to not isolate persons with disabilities and provide care in the most appropriate and inclusive environment.  For these individuals, the lawyers said that place was in their homes."

Tags: Government Benefits, Health, Legal Services Activities and Achievements