this week with senator doug overbey

Senator Overbey has a survey website to get a gauge on the desires of the people here.

Members of the Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Services Committee voted this week to approve a plan to help hospitals avoid almost $659 million in cuts proposed in Governor Phil Bredesen's 2010-2011 budget. Hospitals have asked the General Assembly to assess a coverage assessment on them in order to raise $230 million. Money raised would be used to draw down $430 million in federal funds available through a temporary Medicaid match program.

Language in the legislation, Senate Bill 3528, also ensures that any assessment would not be passed along to patients. In addition, hospitals have negotiated, contracted rates with payers that would prevent them from passing the fee on to patients.

Hospital officials say the budget cuts, if not restored, would have a long-term impact on TennCare enrollees, hospitals and other providers and patients, particularly Level 1 trauma centers and hospitals in the most rural areas of the state. It would also have severe ramification for high cost services, such as treatments needed for burn, perinatal and hemophilia patients.

The assessment would be based on 3.5 percent of a hospital's net patient revenue according to its 2008 Medicare cost report. The money would restore cuts made to such services as critical access hospitals, the Graduate Medical Education program, a $10,000 cap on inpatient and the 8-visit limit imposed on outpatient services, therapies, and office visits. Money raised by the fee would also provide funds for the medically needy program, critical access hospitals and payments to reimburse hospitals for a portion of their uncompensated TennCare. Non-governmental hospitals critical access hospitals, freestanding rehabilitation hospitals, long term acute care hospitals and pediatric research hospitals are not included in the assessment, as well as state mental health institutes.

Twenty-six other states have a similar assessment plan to provide funding for their Medicaid programs and twelve additional states are currently considering such a plan.
Bill would improve state's "Silver Alert System" legislation

The Senate voted this week to improve Tennessee's "Silver Alert System" by removing the age requirement to include any citizen with Alzheimer's, dementia, or a physical impairment to be covered under the act. Previously, the law was limited to those 60 years of age or older.

The "Silver Alert System," which was passed into law last year, works similarly to the "Amber Alert System" to help locate missing individuals who have Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. The program calls for local law enforcement agencies to coordinate with non-profit organizations such as A Child is Missing or the Alzheimer's Association to aid in their efforts.

There is a critical 24-hour time period in which to locate missing seniors. This program is designed to disseminate quickly descriptive information about the missing person, so that citizens in the affected area can be on the lookout for the endangered person and notify local law enforcement with any relevant information.

Approximately 100,000 Tennesseans and as many as 5.2 million persons nationwide are living with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The Silver Alert system is working in eight states and has resulted in the safe return of a majority of those reported.

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America has reported that six in 10 of those with Alzheimer's disease will wander away and become disoriented. Half of those who wander are found within five miles of their home. Of those not found within 24 hours, half will be seriously injured or die.

The legislation, Senate Bill 2903, now goes to the governor for his signature.
Bill provides an educational approach to
remove discarded mercury from landfills

The full Senate passed legislation on final consideration this week that provides an educational approach to keep toxic mercury-added consumer products from being improperly disposed in landfills. The bill, Senate Bill 2403, requires employers with 10 or more employees, tanning bed facilities, and businesses with 3,000 square feet or more to recycle mercury containing products, which are predominantly fluorescent light bulbs. Other lighting products include high intensity discharge bulbs and projector lamps.

Improper management and disposal of these blubs will release mercury into the environment. Health problems associated with mercury exposure include digestive, cardiovascular, nervous system and kidney-related illness. Experts maintain yearly usage of mercury containing lamps is in excess of one billion nationwide.

Most businesses are already using responsible recycling measures to aid in efforts to keep mercury out of our landfills. This legislation seeks to make sure other businesses are educated and informed of this requirement and the hazards it poses to our environment.
Bill requires facility signage that coercion
to have an abortion is a crime in Tennessee

Legislation that aims to educate citizens that coercion to have an abortion is a crime in Tennessee won approval this week in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill, Senate Bill 3812, would require a physician's office, ambulatory surgical treatment center, or other clinics in which abortions are performed to post signs to provide women with this information about the state law and their option to receive help if they are being threatened.

According to a survey published in the Medical Science Monitor, over 64 percent of women who received abortions said they felt pressured or coerced into having an abortion. The sign would be posted in the waiting area and patient consultation rooms, but would not apply to clinics where an abortion is performed to prevent the death of a pregnant female.
Bills in Brief

Government Efficiency -- A bill to increase efficiency within state government departments has been approved by the House and Senate and is on its way to the governor for his signature. The legislation, Senate Bill 3013, encourages departments within state government to take comments and suggestions from both employees and the public on how to improve efficiency in state government. Departments would be encouraged to add a public comment portal to their individual websites, under the bill, to facilitate suggestions from the general public. As departments implement the program, they will be required to report back to the General Assembly on the success of the plans during the annual budget hearings in Senate and House committees.

Government Fraud Hotline -- The Senate State and Local Government Committee gave approval to a bill to help ensure government fraud and abuse is investigated by the Comptroller. The Comptroller is presently required to investigate reports received from government employees and citizens through their hotline regarding fraud, abuse, or wrongdoing by state agencies and private corporations that contract with a state agency. Senate Bill 3682 expands that law to require state agency officials who have knowledge of a theft, forgery, credit card fraud, or any other act of unlawful or unauthorized taking or abuse of public money, property or services, report it to the Comptroller immediately.

Sex offenders -- The full Senate passed legislation to require the Board of Medical Examiners to deny or revoke the license of any physician convicted of an offense which requires registration as a sexual offender. The bill, Senate Bill 3362, provides for communications between the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's (TBI) Sex Offender Registry and the Board of Medical Examiners to make sure that no existing physician is on the Registry. The action comes after a mother in Middle Tennessee learned her child's family practice physician was listed on the state's Sex Offender Registry.

Drivers License / English -- The Senate Transportation Committee has given approval to legislation, Senate Bill 63, to require Tennessee drivers' license exams are given in English. The measure seeks to make sure that immigrants know how to read the road signs and can drive safely in Tennessee. The bill does not apply to persons whose presence in the United States has been authorized by Homeland Security for work in companies located in Tennessee through the efforts of Tennessee's Department of Economic and Community Development in order to accommodate those nationalities with manufacturing facilities in the state.

Birth Certificates / Stillborns -- The full Senate has approved a proposal calling for the state to acknowledge the birth of a stillborn infant by issuing a birth certificate if the parents request one.  The legislation, Senate Bill 3189, calls for issuance of a birth certificate, upon the request of parents for stillborn infants if they are 20 weeks or more gestation or 350 grams. The action comes after testimony from parents of stillborn infants talked to members of the General Assembly about the need for the state's recognition that their baby had been born and its role in their healing process.

Veterans / Professional Privilege Tax -- Senate Bill 2782 was approved by Senate on Thursday morning and goes to the House. This bill would ensure that physicians who are deployed overseas as commissioned officers in the Armed Forces are exempt from Tennessee's $400 occupational privilege tax.

General Assembly / Mileage allowance -- Members of the State and Local Government Committee voted to approve Senate Bill 3300 to limit the reimbursement of in-state airline travel for members of the General Assembly to the mileage reimbursement they would have received if they had driven.

As your State Senator...

Effective leadership starts with careful listening. That's why your voice needs to be heard.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts and concerns on the issues we face every day.

Together, we can get Tennessee working again. It is a privilege to serve you in the State Senate.

Senator Overbey has a survey website to get a gauge on the desires of the people here.