Tennessee

State Government Profile

Governor: Bill Haslam (R)

Lt. Governor: Ron Ramsey (R)

Attorney General: Robert Cooper, Jr. (D)

Legislature: Senate (Republican control 20-13), House (Republican control 64-33)

Legislative Leaders: Senate Speaker/Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R); Senate President Pro-Tem Jamie Woodson (R); Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R)

2012 Legislative Session: Jan. 10 – May 26

Key Health Officials: Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak; Commissioner of Human Services Gina Lodge; Commissioner of Health Susan Cooper; Director/Deputy Commissioner, Bureau of  TennCare (Medicaid Director) Darin Gordon

State Links

Demographic Highlights

State Population: 6,346,105 (2010 US Census data)

Medicaid Enrollment: 1,204,239(July 2010, CMS)

Percent Enrolled in Managed Care: 100% (July 2010, CMS)

Uninsured Rate: 14.7% (three-year average, 2008-10, US Census Bureau)

Health Reform Projections: 330,932 – 474,240 (total new Medicaid enrollees, low and high participation scenarios, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured)

2.5 – 5.4% (change in state Medicaid spending, low and high participation scenarios, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured)

Budget Overview

State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2011 Budget Appropriations: $10.598 billion (state general funds)

SFY2012 Projected Budget Shortfall: TBD

SFY2008 Medicaid Expenditures: $2.525 billion (state general funds)

Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) Rates:

69.05% (January – March 2011)
67.05% (April – June 2011)
65.85% (July – September 2011)
66.36% (October 2011 – September 2012)

Health Reform Implementation Activities and Developments

Health Reform Implementation Structure: No official/formal structure initiated to date

Exchange: Exchange Planning and Establishment Grant

Amount Awarded: $1,000,000

Administrator: Benefits Administration, Tennessee Department of Finance

Initial Planning Activities:

  • Provide major deliverables include policy briefs, legal analyses and contractor studies, including a study on whether to merge the small group and individual markets.
  • Analyze Tennessee’s resources and capabilities, with significant additional time spent on program integration and business operations

High Risk Pool: Federal-Run.

Additional Grants and Funding:

  • The state applied for and was awarded a $1 million rate review grant
  • The state was awarded a consumer assistance program grant

Other State Actions, Indicators, and Health Reform Resources:

Anti-Reform Actions and Developments:

  • The Tennessee House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 704 opposing federal health reform and asserting states’ rights

White House Information on Health Reform’s Impact in Tennessee