Governor Signs Long-Term Care Legislation

Press Release

Governor Signs Long-Term Care Legislation

Governor Phil Bredesen this week joins legislators and long-term care advocates for a series of ceremonial bill signing events across the state to mark the passage of the Long-Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008. Bredesen proposed the legislation in his State of the State address in January to add new choices in home- and community-based services.

"The effect of this legislation is truly significant, and I appreciate the bi-partisan support of the General Assembly in making these changes," Bredesen said. "This is a wholesale approach to improving the way we handle long-term care in our Medicaid system. This legislation fundamentally restructures the way care is delivered in our state and will create positive changes for families in every county in Tennessee."

In January, Governor Bredesen marked this as the year to deliver on his promise to expand alternatives to nursing homes for elderly and physically disabled residents. These changes to the TennCare program, the state's largest single payer of long-term care services, allows $1.2 billion in TennCare funds to be more evenly divided between traditional nursing homes and home- and community-based service providers. Prior to the new law, nursing homes received 98 percent of long-term care funds in Tennessee.

"We're literally changing the culture of how we deliver long-term care services to the people of our state," Bredesen said. "It's a real acknowledgement that there's no place like home, and that our state is taking a significant step forward in its ability to help our aging and disabled citizens."

Joining the Governor this week are members of the General Assembly, AARP members and other long-term care stakeholders. The Governor signs the legislation in public ceremonies at senior centers in Kingsport, Knoxville and Chattanooga on Tuesday, and Nashville, Memphis and Jackson on Wednesday.

"As I've traveled around the state talking to people about this issue, it has become clear just how many people are affected by this issue-young and old," Bredesen said. "I have seen how much my own mother wants to stay in her own home, and I know there are many families out there who want these types of choices. I'm pleased this is the year we begin to make that happen in Tennessee."

Senators Lowe Finney, Jim Kyle and Diane Black were prime sponsors of the legislation in the Senate and Representatives Dennis Ferguson, Lois DeBerry and Gary Odom were prime sponsors in the House. By the time of the bill's passage, virtually every member of the General Assembly had signed on in support of the legislation.

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