Can Obama Learn From Tennessee's Health Care 'Disaster'? - Marsha Blackburn

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/06/09/Marsha_Blackburn_Future_of_Employer-Provided_Health...

Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) claims Tennessee's government-run health insurance plan TennCare is a "disaster." She warns a federally sponsored public option would likely result in a similar outcome. State spending in Tennessee, she says, accelerated from 2.5 billion dollars in 1995 to 8 billion in 2004 because people dropped their private insurance in favor of the "public option."

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There is little disagreement the current healthcare system needs an overhaul. The U.S. spends over $2.4 trillion dollars annually on healthcare and costs have doubled since 2000 for employer-based family coverage. Options are shrinking.

Most agree reform is needed but the debate lies with two competing ideals for the future of healthcare. One is where Washington controls financing and delivery and is seen as the solution, not the problem; while the other contends individuals and families are the best judge of how to spend health care dollars.

In the middle lie employers and Congress. The Heritage Foundation hosts an event addressing the future of reform and how it will impact employee provided healthcare.

Marsha Blackburn is a Tennessee politician. A member of the Republican Party, she represents Tennessee's 7th congressional district, which stretches from the suburbs of Nashville to the suburbs of Memphis.

Marsha Blackburn is an established, conservative, results-oriented legislator who solves problems. She was sent to the U.S. House of Representatives at the start of the 108th Congress where she was one of only a few newly-elected congressmen selected to serve as an assistant whip on the majority whip team and the first female in Tennessee elected in her own right to the US House.

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• budget
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• crisis
• cost
• tenncare
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• fora.tv
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[classc63]

Why isn't Marsha Blackwell telling people that?

I am so tired of people who are misinformed and EAT whatever Republicans spew as if it's gospel.

PLEASE stop being ignorant--DO YOUR RESEARCH and THINK FOR YOURSELVES!!!

[classc63]

(cont.)

 The state underestimated the previous costs of Medicaid. TennCare, which covers 25% of the state's nearly 5 million residents, provides a wider array of services than Medicaid and has improved access to services, both of which have increased usage. TennCare enrollees may have been sicker than the state employee group or enrollees in other health maintenance organizations. The state did not send premium booklets to 80,000 enrollees expected to contribute monthly premiums."

[classc63]

After doing some research (imagine that!) it seems there are some explanation for the failure of this progam that the Congresswoman is not explaining. I wonder why?

"Several assumptions and comparisons with previous health care programs made by designers of the TennCare program proved to be inaccurate."

[pharmdboy07]

I am a Tennessean, and I must say that Rep. Blackburn knows what she is talking about. TennCare did bankrupt the state, and if a similar plan is accepted for the entire nation, we will be driven farther and farther into debt. Why can people not understand how the market works? If you let the market work and let private industries do what they do best, everything will work out for the best. The major problem with the healthcare debate is that you have lawyers writing health laws???

[donfolstar]

"A close study of what is going to happen"

Her and her republican buddies probably did everything in their power to doom the system? People from Tennessee fail at basic accounting? A state is a different then the fed?

[82abhilash]

I can't care for others if people rob me of what I own in the name of caring for others. They are the ones who pave the road to hell with good intentions. Do not give them a hand.

[phillipmarch22]

Yes, life is unpredictable! Little healthy five year olds get cancer and young adults lose their jobs through no fault of their own.

You are cold and uncaring and I will pray that you quit thinking only of yourself and start thinking about the big picture. You are selfish and that should disturb you!

[82abhilash]

I do not know what you are talking about. But like you said life i unpredictable, so there is no way of knowing for sure whether your children and grandchildren are good for life. Even if you made good decisions, their decisions are theirs to make and they can make bad ones.

[phillipmarch22]

Oh, I have taken care of my children AND grandchildren. They are good for life! And if you are smart about it, that money won't be taxed. Come'on dude, I was giving you more credit than that!

[82abhilash]

If you care for your children and pay taxes because of it, you are a fool indeed. You can more directly give the money to your children as inheritance so that when life's unpredictability takes them down a wrong turn, they can use their inheritance as a cash cushion. Oh wait, that won't be easy. Inheritance are taxed too. Yes, if you give your post tax saving to your children they are taxed on it!!