Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) and Rep. Timothy Hill (R-Blountville) have introduced legislation that calls for submission of a block grant-waiver amendment to the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The proposed move would extend Tennessee’s financial successes to the state’s TennCare program. House Bill 1280 was filed February 6; Senate Bill 1428 was filed February 7.

Bailey called Tennessee one of the “best financially managed” states in the nation, and added a block grant would provide the regulatory flexibility to design an innovative plan that works best for citizens of Tennessee, without having to rely on a cookie-cutter plan from Washington, D.C.

He went on to say this flexibility would enable the state to cut costs and be more efficient with existing Medicaid funds, to permit better-quality care for citizens.

Bailey is chair of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. Hill chairs the House Commerce Committee.