NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Rep. Jason Hodges has introduced a bill that would authorize the governor to expand Medicaid pursuant to the Affordable Care Act.
The bill also authorizes the governor to negotiate with the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services to determine the terms of the expansion.
“We have far too many uninsured Tennesseans and have had too many hospital closures. The time for passing Medicaid expansion is now. Tennesseans already pay taxes to the Federal Government for Medicaid Expansion and it is long overdue that they reap the benefits,” Rep. Hodges said.
“I look forward to the entire Tennessee General Assembly, Democrats and Republicans alike, putting politics aside and voting for the taxpayers of this state. They deserve no less and expect us as lawmakers to do the right thing.”
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Below is the language for House Bill 1092 by Rep. Jason Hodges (D-Clarksville) and Senate Bill 983 by Senator Brenda Gilmore (D-Nashville).
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-5-126, is amended by deleting the section and substituting instead the following:
The governor is authorized to expand Medicaid eligibility in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148. The governor is authorized to negotiate with the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services with respect to the terms of Medicaid expansion.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it
Hodges, represents District 67. Reach him on Twitter @JasonAHodgesTN