The Chattanooga Times
reports that Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen is concerned about
the burden that Democratic health care proposals could put on
Tennessee:
NASHVILLE - Gov. Phil Bredesen warned Tuesday that pending
federal health care legislation could cost Tennessee far more
than the $735 million "best estimate" his administration
previously has cited.
The $735 million would stretch over five years, but "in
addition, there are huge unknowns for the states in this
reform," Gov. Bredesen said, estimating that those costs, if
realized, could exceed another $3 billion from 2014 to 2019.
Among other things, Democratic bills call for a significant
expansion of Medicaid, the cost or which would be partially borne
by the states. In 1994, Tennessee expanded Medicaid coverage as
part of a health care reform effort, but by 2003 its health care
system was deemed "not
financially viable" in an independent analysis by McKinsey
& Co., and Bredesen was forced to rein in the program.
Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, the Union Leader
informs us:
New Hampshire's business community would pay $215 million to
$229 million to comply with a Democratic-sponsored health care
reform bill that has advanced in the House of Representatives,
a new study by two conservative economists says.
