Proposing an alternative health care plan to Obamacare or Affordable Care Act (ACA), Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on Monday said that he will be convening a special session of the state Legislature to consider the plan which is aimed at providing medical coverage to state residents who either don’t have insurance or have limited options.
Haslam proposed the “Insure Tennessee” health care plan claiming it to be a good alternative to President Barack Obama’s signature project Affordable Care Act, which has faced severe opposition in many Southern states.
The number of uninsured residents is high in the Southern states.
A release statement from Haslam’s office said, “The Tennessee plan leverages federal dollars to provide health care coverage to more Tennesseans, to give people a choice in their coverage, and to address the cost of healthcare, better health outcomes and personal responsibility.”
Applauding the proposed plan, Tennessee Hospital Association president and chief executive Craig Becker, said, “The working uninsured in our state currently find themselves in a coverage gap that results in limited access to healthcare. Insure Tennessee can close this gap and help our neighbors and loved ones find quality coverage and access to care.
The Republican governor also claimed that his alternative health care plan had received approval from the US Department of Health and Human Services verbally. Additionally, the state is required to submit a waiver to HHS for getting legislative approval.