Talking Points for Speaker Harwell’s Task Force On April 12th, Speaker Harwell announced that she has put together a task force to come up with a plan to close the coverage gap. The task force, comprised of four Representatives, is to hold public meetings and design a plan to bring to the federal government for approval by June. The members of the task force are Representatives Cameron Sexton, Matthew Hill, Steve McManus, and Roger Kane. On the next page, you will find a short profile of each Representative. It is vital that the task force – as well as Speaker Harwell – hears from Tennesseans from across the state that we are expecting a plan that will succeed in closing the coverage gap. It is up to all of us to hold our legislators accountable, and to make sure they know what we want to see in the plan. The task force must create a plan that will: Close the coverage gap and offer affordable health care coverage to the 280,000 Tennesseans who are currently suffering without access to care. Keep our rural hospitals open, and prevent more from closing – we’ve already had 6 close their doors. Create new jobs and prevent the loss of jobs from hospital closures. The task force and Speaker Harwell need to hear from us now. Call them today, and ask them to make a plan that works for Tennessee. Here is a sample script: “Hi, my name is XX, and I’d like to make a comment to Representative XX about the Task Force to create a health care plan. I’m grateful that Representative XX has stepped up to come up with a solution. It’s so important that he and the task force come up with a plan that closes the coverage gap, and offers affordable health care coverage to the 280,000 Tennesseans who are living without access to care. The plan must do this, keep our rural hospitals open, and create new jobs.” Contact Information for the Task Force Members and Speaker Harwell: o Rep. Sexton: (615) 741-2343, [email protected] o Rep. Hill: (615) 741-2251, [email protected] o Rep. Kane: (615) 741-4110, [email protected] o Rep. McManus: (615) 741-1920, [email protected] o Rep. Camper: (615) 741-1898, [email protected] o Speaker Beth Harwell: (615) 741-0709, [email protected] Task Force Member Profiles Representative Cameron Sexton, Task Force Chair, District 25: Cumberland, Van Buren, and the Eastern Part of Putnum Counties Contact Information: (615) 741-2343 [email protected] Nashville address: Home office address: 301 6th Avenue North 186 Homestead Drive Suite 114 War Memorial Crossville, TN 38555 Bldg. Nashville, TN 37243 Relevant information: o 10,034 people who live in Cumberland, Van Buren, and Putnum Counties are in the coverage gap, and have no access to insurance. o The Cumberland Medical Center is at risk of closing or cutting its services.* o Since Rep. Sexton entered office in 2011, Tennessee taxpayers have contributed $59,255.69 to his health insurance plan. Community Involvement: Crossville Noon Rotary Club, Friends of Cumberland Mountain State Park, Relay for Life, Board Member at Good Samaritans Society, Fairfield Glade Lions Club, Cumberland County Bank Board of Directors Representative Matthew Hill, District 7: Southeastern part of Washington County Contact Information: (615) 741-2251 [email protected] Nashville address: Home office address: 301 6th Avenue North 114 Royal Oaks Drive Suite 23 Legislative Jonesborough, TN 37659 Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243 Relevant information: o 7924 people who live in Washington County are in the coverage gap, and have no access to insurance. o The Franklin Woods Community Hospital is at risk of closing or cutting its services.* o In 2013, 68% of patients from Washington County (which is 12,312 people) who were admitted to a hospital were admitted to a hospital that is at risk of closing or cutting its services.* o Since 2008, Tennessee taxpayers have contributed $93,600.97 to Rep. Hill’s health insurance plan. Community Involvement: Telford Ruritan Club, Board of Directors of Contact Ministries, National Rifle Association, Washington County Republican Party, National Federation of Independent Business Representative Roger Kane, District 89: Western part of Knox County Contact Information: (615) 741-4110 [email protected] Nashville address: Home office address: 301 6th Avenue North 7031 Cherry Grove Road Suite 202A War Knoxville, TN 37931 Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243 Relevant information: o 22,173 people who live in Knox County are in the coverage gap, and have no access to insurance. o Mercy Medical Center West is at risk of closing or cutting its services.* o In 2013, 10,644 residents of Knox County were admitted to a hospital that is at risk of closing or cutting its services.* o Beginning in 2012 when Rep. Kane took office, Tennessee taxpayers have contributed $38,380.99 to his health insurance plan. Community Involvement: President of the Karns Business Association, President of the Karns Fair Board, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, NFIB, Member of NRA, Board Member of Karns Volunteer Fire Department, Board Member of TN College of Applied Technology, Tennessee Right To Life Representative Steve McManus, District 96: Part of Shelby County Contact Information: (615) 741-1920 [email protected] Nashville address: Home office address: 301 6th Avenue North 9406 Riveredge Drive Suite 20 Legislative Cordova, TN 38018 Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243 Relevant information: o 64,130 people who live in Shelby County are in the coverage gap, and have no access to insurance. o Baptist Memorial – Collierville, Delta Medical Center, Methodist Hospital North and South, and Methodist University Healthcare are at risk of closing or cutting their services.* o Since 2008, Tennessee taxpayers have contributed $81,607.57 to Rep. McManus’s health insurance plan. Community Involvement: Finance Chairman Shelby County Republican Party, Executive Committee of the Shelby County Republican Party, Co-Chairman of the Cordova Leadership Council, Chairman of the Board of the Germantown Community Theatre, Leadership Memphis Graduate of the Class of 2005, Regional Business Commentator on Fox News, Executive Committee of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators, Member of the Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development of the American Legislative Exchange Council, Board Member of Leadership Memphis Representative Karen Camper, District 87: Part of Shelby County Contact Information: (615) 741-1898 [email protected] Nashville address: Home office address: 301 6th Avenue North 4229 Oxford Park Drive Suite 32 Legislative Memphis, TN 38116 Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243 Relevant information: o Rep. Camper has publically supported Insure Tennessee. o 64,130 people who live in Shelby County are in the coverage gap, and have no access to insurance. o Baptist Memorial – Collierville, Delta Medical Center, Methodist Hospital North and South, and Methodist University Healthcare are at risk of closing or cutting their services.* o Since 2012, Tennessee taxpayers have contributed $22,143.05 to Rep. Camper’s health insurance plan. Community Involvement: Democratic Caucus Treasurer, Owner of Key II Entertainment, Substitute teacher in the Memphis City School system, Member of the Tennessee Legislative Black Caucus, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #11333, Executive Director of The Humble Hearts Foundation, Inc., Life member of NAACP, Charter Member of Women in Military Service for America, Lifetime Member of Black in Government, Board member of National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women, Vice Chair of Tennessee Economic Council on Women, Board member of Women's Actions for New Directions, Region IV Chair of National Black Caucus of State Legislators, Member of National Caucus of Environment Legislators, CSG Toll Fellow, NOBLE Women Second Vice President, Chair of Shelby County Delegation Speaker Beth Harwell, District 56: Part of Davidson County Contact Information: (615) 741-0709 [email protected] Nashville address: Home office address: 301 6th Avenue North 413 West Tyne Drive Suite 19 Legislative Nashville, TN 37205 Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243 Relevant information: o 45,731 people who live in Davidson County are in the coverage gap, and have no access to insurance. o Metro Nashville General Hospital, Skyline Medicaid Center Madison Campus, and Southern Hills Medical Center are at risk of closing or cutting their services.* o Since 2008, Tennessee taxpayers have contributed $93,600.97 to Speaker Harwell’s health insurance plan. Community Involvement: House member of the 96th through 109th General Assemblies, Douglas Henry State Museum Commission, Tennessee State Museum Foundation Board, Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee Board of Directors, Republican Legislative Campaign Committee Executive Committee, President of National Speakers Conference, Montgomery Bell Academy Board of Directors, RSLC Right Women Right Now Co-Chair, PearlPoint Cancer Support Board of Directors, Jobs for Tennessee Graduates Board of Directors, Economic Council on Women 1999, Agape Board of Directors 1992-1998, Nashville Vanderbilt Club Board of Directors 1996-1998, Women's NETWORK Advisory Board – 1998, Luton Mental Health, Board of Directors 1988-1996, American Heart Association Board of Directors 1995, Centennial Medical Center Board of Directors – 1995, David Lipscomb University Business Advisory Council – 1995, Knowles Senior Citizens Center - Board of Directors – 1995, Child Abuse Prevention Board of Directors 1989-1994, Leadership Nashville, 1992, Economic Council on Women Nashville Women Careerist, 1983. * Based on audited financial data reported by hospitals to the Tennessee Department of Health and posted online in the Joint Annual Report of Hospitals: https://apps.health.tn.gov/publicjars/default.aspx. .