| State official to talk health care reform | | Posted: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 9:09 pm
| By KEVIN BOWDEN
Staff Reporter
Gov. Bill Haslam’s surprise announcement in late March that he would not pursue expanding the state’s Medicaid program to help cover the uninsured as part of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act will have broad implications for Tennessee.
State treasurer David H. Lillard Jr. will be in Jackson May 23 to explain how health care reform will affect the personal and professional lives of Tennesseans.
He will appear at a luncheon program at Jackson’s Doubletree Hotel as a guest of the West Tennessee Association of Health Un-derwriters.
Leigh Ann Moore of Westan Insurance in Martin is the past president of the organization and currently serves on the association’s board of directors. She has been a member of the association for more than six years and is also a current member of the Tennessee Association of Health Underwriters’ board of directors.
She has been involved in bringing the state treasurer to speak in Jackson and is in the process of notifying her agency’s clients about Lillard’s program. The May 23 program will mark the first time the state treasurer has addressed the West Tennessee insurance association.
He will discuss the impact health care reform will have on the state budget, even without a state-based exchange.
Lillard’s program will also address the potential advantages and disadvantages the governor’s decision not to expand Medicaid will have on the state’s taxpayers and on businesses in the state.
“This law is broad reaching and affects every Tennessean. Every individual and business owner will be affected, so we think this program will answer some very important questions people may have,” Mrs. Moore said.
Lillard is uniquely qualified to explain the impact of health care reform and answer any questions about current and state budget issues as he has overseen the state Department of Treasury since 2009.
The luncheon will begin at 11:30 and the event is open to the public. There is a $20 charge to cover the cost of the meal.
Anyone interested in attending the luncheon should contact Mrs. Moore at (731) 587-9993 or by email at lmoore@westaninsurance.com.
Staff Reporter Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ucmessenger.com.
Published in The Messenger 5.15.13 | | | | |
