Congressman Cooper To Governor Haslam: It’s Past Time For Medicaid Expansion In Tennessee

Congressman Jim Cooper speaks on health care reform at Vanderbilt University in 2011. Cooper has said in the past that Medicaid expansion is a good deal for Tennessee, because the state depends on Washington to pay its way. Image: Susan Urmy/Vanderbilt University

Congressman Jim Cooper says it’s past time for Governor Bill Haslam and Republican lawmakers to expand Medicaid in Tennessee. The Nashville Democrat says hospitals are closing and the working poor are doing without health insurance.

For more than a year, Governor Haslam has been talking to Washington about what a Tennessee Medicaid expansion would look like. Haslam has released few details about those discussions, and Cooper says it’s time for action.

“I measure things by results, not intentions. And right now, our program is not expanded. So, let’s get results. Let’s expand the program,” Cooper said at an appearance in Nashville last week.

The Republican-controlled General Assembly would have to approve any agreement. Cooper says other GOP-led states have found ways to expand Medicaid.

But Florida, like Tennessee, has Republicans in control of the governor’s office and state house. Lawmakers there have rejected expansion twice.

The Tennessee Hospital Association is also urging the state to take action. The association says two rural hospitals are closing, because the state hasn’t expanded Medicaid.