Bishop Swanson meets Bredesen over TennCare cuts

By Annette Bender

When Bishop James Swanson met with Gov. Phil Bredesen regarding TennCare on Nov. 15, Swanson asked a "theological question."

"Am I my brother's keeper?" Swanson said in the governor's office in Nashville – amongst a group including Bishop Dick Wills, Tennessee Conference resident bishop, and Steve Hodges, Holston Conference TennCare Task Force chair.

"The answer is yes," Swanson said.

Later, reflecting on the meeting when he had returned to his Knoxville office, Swanson said, "We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, whether we act like we are or not ... I cannot help but worry about the hundreds of thousands of people across Tennessee who do not have health-care coverage."

The gathering of the governor and two United Methodist bishops had been planned for weeks and occurred on the same day that Bredesen had earlier visited Knoxville to celebrate former U.S. Senator Howard Baker's 80th birthday.

Swanson and Wills represent about 2,000 United Methodist churches in Tennessee, Wills told Bredesen during the brief meeting. The Memphis Conference was not represented at the gathering. During the meeting, the bishops expressed concern that an estimated 190,000 Tennesseeans have or will be dropped from TennCare rolls. Since last summer's announcement of the impending health-insurance cuts, Holston Conference has advocated for TennCare victims and has participated in educational and free clinic efforts.

"I asked [Bredesen] to do everything possible to make sure that people who need health care can get it," Swanson said after his meeting in Nashville.

"I do believe [Bredesen] is genuinely concerned ... The governor said to me, 'There are efforts underway to try to find solutions to the problem.'

"I just personally believe - maybe because the issue is so overwhelming - I hold out little hope that the problem will be fixed soon," Swanson said.

Hodges, who is also executive director of Jubilee Project in Sneedville, Tenn., said he agreed with Swanson's statements to Bredesen.

"We have to speak first from a faith perspective," he said, citing a UT Center for Health Services study showing the number of deaths relating to the TennCare cuts.

"Ten to 20 people per month are facing premature death due to the lack of health-care coverage, as a result of the cuts," Hodges said. "In my opinion, that's a faith issue we can't ignore."

Following the meeting with Bredesen, both Swanson and Hodges spoke of the church's role in speaking out for people directly affected by the TennCare cuts.

"We need to understand that they are not bums or lazy people. Many are the working poor who have no coverage because their companies cannot or will not provide coverage for them," Swanson said. "Holston Conference will continue to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves."

"From a faith perspective, the community includes those who don't have money to pay for healthcare coverage, and we have to advocate for them," Hodges said. "That's a Biblical principle."

Both Swanson and Hodges also emphasized the need to educate communities on health-related issues.

"We're called to ministries of charity, advocacy, and education," Hodges said. "We need to educate people about how to keep themselves healthier - as well as about the health care available to them inside the state's safety net and outside."

"We can provide some witness that encourages people to live healthier lifestyles, with regular checkups and information to help them keep their bodies physically fit," Swanson said.

As a result of the meeting, Swanson has been asked to participate in a state-wide discussion regarding current regulations allowing private health insurers to "cherry pick" the healthiest clients. "They deny coverage to the people who need it," Swanson said. "The governor is aware of that."

The conference also will respond to the healthcare crisis by trying to make Holston's health-care coverage more affordable for pastors' families who need it, Swanson said. "The Board of Pensions is currently looking at that and plans to address it."

Swanson encouraged church members to give to Holston's "Emergency Aid Fund," established at Annual Conference in June to help pastors' families with health-care expenses. Currently, the fund contains about $7,400. (To give to the fund, make checks to your local church or to "Holston Conference." Mark "Clergy Emergency Aid Fund" on the memo line. Drop the check in your church offering plate or send to the conference treasurer's office in Knoxville.)

Hodges will meet with the nine-member Holston Conference TennCare Task Force soon to continue to develop the conference's response, he said.

The task force is planning a one-day event in March 2006 that will "look at the responsibilities of the individual, community, church, and governor for health care," Hodges said. "In other words, everyone has a responsibility." The March event will be sponsored by Holston but open to the community, and will include Tennessee Commissioner of Health Kenneth Robinson as a speaker, among others.

Swanson expressed appreciation for the meeting with Bredesen: "I do want to thank the governor for making time for Bishop Wills and me," he said. "The door is open for us to continue to dialogue."

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