For many older adults and people with disabilities, accessing and navigating TennCare’s CHOICES program isn’t easy. Understanding all the processes and nuances of one of the most restrictive programs in the nation can feel daunting and overwhelming. To help healthcare providers, lawyers and advocates unlock these resources for their patients and clients, Tennessee Justice Center is hosting a two-hour virtual workshop focused on cutting through the red tape of the CHOICES program.

During this hands-on simulation, participants with the guidance of our legal team will actively work through a case study featuring a family in need of long-term care support and resources. Join us today! You won’t want to miss this interactive session focused on helping individuals access the home care or nursing home care they need.

The CHOICES workshop is exclusive to 20 attendees only.

SESSION TOPICS:

• Overview of financial and medical requirements

• In-depth review of how estate recovery works

• Tips on how to apply for medical and financial hardships waivers

• Guidelines on how to prepare for a pre-admission examination (PAE)

• Direction on how and when to request a Safety Determination

This workshop has been approved for 2 hours of CEU and CLE continuing education credits.

WORKSHOP PRESENTERS:
Pam Wright, Certified Elder Law Attorney – Pam earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and her law degree at Duke University. She has extensive experience in working with clients of all ages who have special needs or are facing the challenges of long-term care. She is certified as a specialist in Elder Law by the Board of Certification of the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF). NELF’s Elder Law Certification Program is the only elder law program accredited by the American Bar Association. Pam is a member of the Council of Advanced Practitioners of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is past Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Tennessee Bar Association, a member of the section’s Executive Committee and chaired the T.B.A. Special Committee on Conservatorship Practice and Procedure.

Rob Watkins, Staff Attorney – Rob received his BA in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his JD from St. Louis University School of Law. He is currently licensed to practice law in Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee. Rob began his legal career as a prosecutor in Decatur, Illinois prior to becoming Assistant Counsel to the Illinois Secretary of State. In addition to being an attorney, Rob has twenty years of business operations experience and has been actively involved in the entrepreneur community in Nashville.
Join us in sending handwritten postcards and letters to our representatives! You can create and mail your postcard or letter at any time OR join a virtual party with other Southern advocates at 5 p.m. CT/6 p.m. ET on December 20 for Postcard Making!

REGISTER HERE

After weeks of negotiations in Congress, the Build Back Better Reconciliation Bill passed through the House of Representatives with a provision that will close the coverage gap through 2025 for 2.2 million Americans in the 12 states that haven’t expanded Medicaid. 

We are so close! To get it over the finish line and ensure this coverage gap fix becomes law—we must turn our attention to President Biden and the Senate, urging them to see this process through and pass the bill before the year ends. We need you to help us ensure the bill gets to the finish line with the federal coverage gap fix protected! Health care can’t wait. 

You can download the letterhead below, or use any materials and paper you may have at your house.

• Letterhead PDF to print and handwrite

• Letterhead Word Document to type

Sample Messages:

• I wanted to send you best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and New Year! As lovely as the holidays can be, it can also be very stressful for people who continue to live in the coverage gap without affordable health care. Sixty percent of those in the coverage gap are people of color, making this an urgent racial equity issue. Please do everything that you can to ensure the passage of the Build Back Better Act that includes a federal Medicaid expansion solution.

• Please make this time a safe and happy holiday season by passing the Build Back Better Act. 2.2 million Americans have no access to basic, affordable health insurance. Most of them live in the South. Our people can’t wait any longer. Each day that passes without a coverage gap fix means more Americans will die prematurely. Please get it done in 2021!

Sample message to representatives who are working hard to pass BBB:

Dear ______________, 

• Thank you for all your work to pass the Build Back Better Act this year.

• As you continue to fight in the _____ (insert appropriate legislative body), we ask that you continue to prioritize ensuring that Americans in the coverage gap, like those in my home state of _________ are secured a path to coverage in BBB this year.

• Closing the coverage gap in ____ (state) is critical because _____________________________ (inset personal reason for closing coverage gap here)

  • Example reasons closing the coverage gap matters:

    • Racial equity issue: 60% percent of those in the coverage gap are people of color

    • Our communities, especially parents and youth, cooks and teachers, caretakers and essential workers, have suffered too long

    • For many, this is a matter of life and death.

• Share holiday-themed closing.

  • As lovely as the holidays can be, it can also be very stressful for people who continue to live in the coverage gap without affordable health care.

Mailing addresses

President Biden
The White House
Office of the President
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Senate Leader Schumer
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

Office of Senator (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

TENNESSEE
Senator Marsha Blackburn
Senator Bill Hagerty