Yesterday, state officials said the changes would come at no increased cost to taxpayers. The state agreed to pay Express Scripts — the company hired to run the program — as much as $64 million. That amount will not change even with extended services, said Andrea White, a state Finance Department spokeswoman. However, further details about financial arrangements with the company won't be available until next week, she said.
The extra benefits come as a huge relief to former TennCare enrollees such as Dickson resident James Betty, who had no idea how he would pay for two types of insulin he takes daily.
"We were just scared to death," said his wife, Cybil Betty. The Bettys say they can't afford private insurance. With the insulin paid for, James Betty might be able to squeak by without insurance until his 65th birthday in June, when he can qualify for federal Medicare drug benefits.
However, Betty said, she's not sure yet how they will pay the doctor's bills to get the prescriptions written for the free medicines.
The program provides those cut from TennCare with free access to a list of 60 drugs at their local pharmacies or through mail order with the St. Louis-based Express Scripts.
For those losing TennCare who are also on Medicare, the program continues only through February. State officials said they were extending this program to give that group — which originally numbered 38,000 mostly elderly people losing TennCare — a chance to enroll in a federal drug program that begins next year.
Bredesen credited the state's sound management of funds that lawmakers set aside for the "safety net" for the state's ability to provide more services.
"Because of careful management and an outpouring of support from health-care providers and community leaders across Tennessee, we believe we'll be able to extend many of the safety net services for those coming off TennCare to further ease the transition to alternative health-care services."
Lawmakers in June set aside $104 million for transitional medical assistance for those cut from TennCare following Bredesen's drastic overhaul of the financially faltering health program.
While state officials say about 200,000 prescriptions for generic drugs have been filled for former TennCare enrollees, the program has not helped everyone.
Dump truck driver Carl Lamb says he cannot substitute his brand-name high blood pressure and emphysema medications with versions available through RxOutreach, Express Script's generic drug program. He says he cannot afford private insurance.
Lamb is among two-thirds of former TennCare enrollees who have not used the generic drug program. It is unclear how many of those cut from TennCare need prescription drugs.
In the meantime, Lamb has been going without his blood pressure medication and says he can't afford the $157 per month it costs.
"I have trouble working now, and my boss is worried about me having a stroke while driving," said Lamb, 48, of Smyrna. His co-workers "are going to pitch in for me to buy me medicines" this month, but he's not sure what he'll do next.
Another 350,000 prescriptions have been filled through other safety net programs that provide drug discounts and certain drugs for those with mental illnesses.
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