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No Beckett waiver funding in budget

The Katie Beckett waiver passed the Tenncare subcommittee last month with no income caps, but appropriations for the program were left out of Governor Bill Lee's proposed supplemental budget.

The waiver program would cost the state approximately $27 million and would support about 3,000 children in Tennessee, according to reports.

"Our special needs families watched in anticipation only to be heartbroken," Rosalie Howes of Cookeville said. "Our waiver would cost the state roughly $27 million, yet in his (Lee's) budget, he included $25 million to go to prison to help fight hepatitis C outbreaks. We are furious that the Governor would prioritize convicted inmates over innocent children."

An amendment to the budget has been filed to include those appropriations in the budget, but it is still a concern to families like Howes.

Howes' 6-year-old son, Hyrum, suffered a stroke at birth, which created severe physical and cognitive disabilities.

Rosalie's husband, Joseph, worked different jobs at the time of Hyrum's birth and was a full-time engineering student at Tennessee Tech. Because of their lower income, Hyrum had TennCare Medicaid.

But Joseph graduated and landed a civil engineering job, which meant a higher income.

"We were excited and relieved," Rosalie said. "We thought the financial problems were at an end. But then we received a letter in the mail stating we lost Hyrum's TennCare Medicaid."

Jospeh's private insurance wouldn't even cover half of Hyrum's needs, which has led the family to considering filing bankruptcy, or even divorce.

"We want to keep our family together and provide for our family," Howes said at the TennCare subcommittee meeting last month.

Traditionally, Katie Beckett waivers provide health insurance to children and adolescents with disabilities who want to live at home, but don't qualify for Medicaid because of their parents' income.

"Medicaid will cover the care for these same children if they are institutionalized," according to the Tennessee Justice Center website. "In fact, families cannot keep their children at home, even if it can be proven to be a safe and cost-effective alternative to an institution."

Tennessee is the only state that does not have the Katie Beckett waiver or a Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) program, according to www.kidswaivers.org.

Howes urges people to contact Lee in support of the Katie Beckett waiver. His office number is (615) 741-2001.