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Mark P.

Mark P., 53, has mental retardation and a serious heart condition. He lives in Lawrenceburg with his father and step-mother, who are in their 70s. In August 2005, Mark’s step-mother called TJC. She told us that Mark had been without his medication for several days because he lost TennCare coverage. Mark couldn’t sleep or control himself and she had not slept for days trying to care for him. She was afraid that Mark would have to be hospitalized soon if he didn’t get medicine.

TJC investigated Mark’s TennCare eligibility and found that he was actually eligible for TennCare Medicaid and should never have lost coverage. TJC called the family to let them know that Mark’s coverage would be reinstated. Mrs. P. then told us that she had just returned from the emergency room where she had been told she was dehydrated from not eating enough. She told TJC that she had been paying for Mark’s medicines out of pocket instead of buying groceries for the family. She wanted Mark and her husband to eat what food they had since they were both sick. She herself hadn’t eaten for a few days.

TJC found a local food bank so the family could get groceries for a week, asked DHS and TennCare to speed the process of reinstating Mark’s coverage so that his prescription coverage would start immediately, and initiated an appeal so that the family could be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses for Mark’s medicine.

The family wrote to TJC saying, “Thank you is not enough for everything you have worked so hard and long on for us. We just wanted you to know how much it meant to us for all your calls and your huge heart. There’s not many people as you. You should be commended on all that you do. May God bless you. Thank you so much!”