JACKSON, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam is touring the state this week to promote his Medicaid expansion plan to cover about 200,000 more low-income Tennesseans.
Haslam began the tour yesterday, at hospitals in Jackson and Memphis. The governor says he’ll make up to eight more stops around the state in advance of a special legislative session he’s called for Feb. 2 to consider his Insure Tennessee initiative.
While Haslam stresses the market-based nature of his plan, several fellow Republicans in the Legislature have balked at drawing down federal money. State Senator Bill Ketron notes that the Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on the legality the President Obama’s health plan.
“Why not wait until after the Supreme Court rules to figure out whether or not Obamacare is even going to be still a structure of providing health care.”
Haslam argues his proposal differs from straight Medicaid expansion adopted in other states because it would require co-pays and offer vouchers to buy private insurance.