HEALTH JUSTICE
TJC's Health Justice policy priorities focus on Healthcare Affordability & Access and Address Gaps in Rural Healthcare. Through these priorities, we advocate for policies that reduce medical debt, improve healthcare affordability, strengthen patient protections, and expand access to care across Tennessee.
WHY IT MATTERS
Tennessee has the worst medical debt policies out of all fifty states, leaving many families exposed to unaffordable medical bills and long-term financial harm. Many Tennesseans also face barriers to accessing healthcare, particularly in rural communities where provider shortages and hospital closures limit access to care.
IMPROVING HEALTHCARE AFFORDABILITY & ACCESS
PROPOSED ACTIONS
IMPLEMENT PASS-THROUGH
PRICING
Spread Pricing is when a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) charges a health plan more for a prescription than it reimburses the pharmacy, keeping the difference. Pass-Through Pricing provides transparency regarding the medication amount. The amount paid to the pharmacy is the exact amount billed to the health plan or client. PBMs would have no incentive to inflate drug pricing since their profit would come from admin fees.
AUTOMATICALLY ENROLL QUALIFIED PATIENTS IN CHARITY CARE
Charity Care is a financial assistance program provided by non-profit and government hospitals to offset bill amounts for folks below the Federal Poverty Level which helps mitigate medical debt. Too many Tennesseans leave the hospital with medical debt that will cripple them financially for years to come. Many of these Tennesseans are eligible for charity care. People who are eligible should be automatically enrolled.
PROTECT AND IMPROVE CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
Babies and children thrive only if they have access to quality prenatal and postnatal healthcare. Children are better, happier students when they have regular check-ups and screenings. Tennessee's children deserve to have continuous coverage that enables them to keep their learning on track.
ADDRESS GAPS IN RURAL HEALTHCARE
PROPOSED ACTION
MONITOR THE TENNESSEE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a 5-year federal grant with the expectation of addressing health disparities and outcomes that exist in rural communities across the country. Tennessee’s narrative expands existing work the state has already done for rural healthcare, committing to increase healthcare access through increased providers and their services, better transportation, and modernized facilities.