A coalition of health-care and social-justice advocacy groups came forth with an analysis explaining that cuts to Tennessee’s safety-net programs proposed in Gov. Bill Haslam’s 2011-12 budget were unnecessarily severe.
While Haslam’s overall handling of the budget in lean economic times was commended, his figures for funding the state Departments of Children’s Services, Health, Human Services, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the TennCare program could harm vulnerable populations of Tennesseans, said the group, made up of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, Tennessee Justice Center, Tennessee Disability Coalition, National Alliance on Mental Illness-Tennessee, Tennesseans for Fair Taxation and Tennessee Citizen Action.
Moreover, the coalition had a clear list of suggestions for how to continue adequate funding of these services without busting the budget.
The good work of the coalition appears to have had an effect. The governor released an amended budget plan that lessened cuts to health care and education. Now, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities will receive $15 million more than expected; TennCare will reimburse hospitals some $24 million more for emergency-room visits and cesarean births, and send nursing homes another $47 million; and Meharry Medical College will receive $13 million more than expected.
The governor heard the call, and it demonstrates once again that, like most effective chief executives, he knows when to listen. ...
We look forward to the vigilance of the coalition organizations as Tennessee’s elected leaders seek ways to balance a new austerity with the inherent compassion of its people.
The Tennessean (Nashville)
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