DBSA Tennessee Past President, S.L. Brannon

Dear Governor Haslam

Larry Drain, Legislative Liaison on State Legislative Affairs, is writing a letter each day to Governor Haslam urging him to accept Medicaid Expansion for Tennessee. Thousands of our fellow consumers are needlessly suffering as a direct result of the Governor's rejection of Medicaid Expansion as offered in the ACA. These consumer's mental health will continue to deteriorate until mental health care is provided and the mental health care system in Tennessee is improved and expanded. This blog is established to give a platform for the presentation of Larry's letters.

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Dear Governor Haslam: Twenty-ninth Letter

10/24/2014

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The 29th letter: life gets in the way

by Larry Drain

Dear Governor Haslam:

This is my 29th letter to you. I think I missed a day, but honestly, life just got in the way.

My wife is having lots of health issues right now and I fear we are headed towards dangerous times. I ask you to keep her in your prayers.

I wonder tonight how many other people are in dangerous times with no where to go for help. I wonder how many people are literally left with nothing else other than prayer. I wonder how many people are wondering why you show so little sense of urgency about their health. I wonder how many people who cant wait are wondering why you can. I wonder....

Did you know you could be a hero? We need one so bad right now. You could be the one who says "To hell with the excuses. There is no reason not to do the right thing. Tennesseans do not leave other Tennesseans behind."

Expand Tenn Care. Choose life. Give life.

Until tomorrow.

Yours truly,

Larry Drain

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Dear Governor Haslam: Twentieth Letter

10/24/2014

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Dear Governor Haslam:

This is my 20th letter to you.

You have the ability to end a history. Since Governor Bredesen began to dismantle Tenn Care thousands and thousands of people have found that the state of Tennessee is more dangerous than whatever sickness or injury they have. Many have been hurt. Many have seen the quality of their lives destroyed. Many have died. I dont think we will ever know how many.

I looked on You Tube this past night and it was astonishing how many people were just reduced to begging for their lives. It was so sad.

Start a new history. Tell thousands of people "it is not that way anymore." Please....

Speak for Medicaid expansion. Speak for us. We have waited a very long time.

Until tomorrow.

Yours truly,

Larry Drain

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Dear Governor Haslam: Seventeenth Letter

6/19/2014

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The 17th letter: What is wrong with saving money? Don't we need it?

Dear Governor Haslam:

This is my 17th letter.

I am confused. If the federal government is going to foot the bill for medicaid does that not mean the money we would have used for medicaid could be saved or spent on some other need?? What is wrong with saving money?? Dont we need it??

Why do we never hear anybody talk about the opportunity federal money gives Tennessee? Why??

Governor Haslam why havent these considerations been a more important part of the discussion??

Tennessee needs opportunity. Please expand medicaid. The first voice must be yours.

Until tomorrow.

Yours truly,

Larry Drain

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Dear Governor Haslam: Sixteenth Letter, $400 Million

6/19/2014

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$400 million
Dear Governor Haslam:

This is my second 16th letter.

I got terrible news today. I heard that Tennessee is getting ready to pass the $400 million number in lost federal aid. $400 million. Can you even begin to imagine what that would have met to this state??

You can stop it. Speak out for Tenn Care expansion.

If you dont the numbers on lost money will only go up.

http://www.medicaidcounter.org/

Above is the link to let you know how much we have lost. Wouldnt it be great if none of us ever needed it again?

Until tomorrow.

Yours truly,

Larry Drain

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Dear Governor Haslam: Sixteenth Letter

6/19/2014

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The 16th letter: Submit a plan

Dear Governor Haslam:

This is my 16th letter to you.

Someone told me that officially there was no Tennessee Plan because you have never submitted a medicaid waiver. They havent approved anything because you havent given them anything to approve.

Submit a plan. At least make yes a possibility. Give yes a chance. Please.

I dont think they will have a different process for Tennessee than they do anyone else. Its like trying to play ball without taking the field.

Governor. Please give yes a chance. Submit the plan. We all deserve to see it.

Thanks in advance.

Until tomorrow.

Yours truly,

Larry Drain

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Dear Governor Haslam: Letter Fifteenth, to YOU

6/19/2014

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The 15th letter: On you

Dear Governor Haslam:

This is my 15th letter to you.

We have never met but I have a friend who knows you. I consider her a very perceptive person. She says that you really want to do the right thing but just dont believe it is even safe to try. She says you are waiting for the elections to get over and you might do something then.

Governor Haslam you underestimate Tennesseans. The legislature is less than the people it represents. We want to see your courage, your compassion and your commitment.

Stand and you will find quickly you are not standing alone. Please expand TennCare. We need you.

Until tomorrow.

Yours truly,

Larry Drain

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Dear Governor Haslam: Fifteenth Letter

6/19/2014

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A second 15th letter: I dont know if he lived

Dear Governor Haslam:

This is my second 15th letter to you. I know Tuesday you are planning to unveil your program to combat drug abuse in Tennessee and that is what made me think about it.

A couple of years ago I got a phone call at the hospital I worked at then. A young man talked about his addiction to prescription drugs. 3 friends had died from overdoses. He had come close. He wanted to go to a detox unit… He was afraid he was going to die.

He didnt have any insurance. I told him the waiting period for a bed could be 6-8 monthes with no insurance. He was quiet for a moment. Then he started to cry. He told me he wanted to live and didnt know how to make it now.

Abruptly he hung up. He wouldnt answer my calls back.

I dont know if he lived or not. I dont know.

There is no drug abuse treatment without access to services. Please expand TennCare. We all deserve a break. It is one of the most important things you could do to fight drug abuse in Tennessee.

Please.

Until tomorrow.

Yours truly,

Larry Drain

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Now we have a Facebook page

6/9/2014

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We now have a facebook page

by hopeworkscommunity

Check out and feel free to participate: http//www.facebook.com/deargovernorhaslam

hopeworkscommunity | May 27, 2014 at 8:28 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL:http://wp.me/p4E9xY-1E

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Dear Governor Haslam: Fourteenth Letter

6/1/2014

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The 14th letter: How many will die? How many have to die??Dear Governor Haslam,

This is my 14th letter to you.

It asks only two questions: without TennCare expansion how many will die? And most importantly how many have to die?

The link below is to a study from Harvard that addresses the first of those questions.

Governor in the next year somewhere between 261 and 981 Tennesseans will die from lack of medical coverage. 261-981 people who will find that the government of the state of Tennessee is more dangerous than cancer, heart disease, diabetes, car wrecks or bullets.

The most important queston is the second one. How many have to die???

NONE

Governor its on you. Please expand TennCare. There are at least 981 reasons too. Please.

You have the voice. You have the choice. Please.

Until tomorrow.

Yours truly,

Larry Drain

Health Affairs Mobile
http://m.healthaffairs.org/blog/2014/01/30/opting-out-of-medicaid-expansion-the-health-and-financial-impacts/
【from Next Browser】

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Dear Governor Haslam: A Second Thirteenth Letter

6/1/2014

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A second 13th letter: 32,000 people
Dear Governor Haslam:

This is my second 13th letter.

32,000 people. That is the number of seriously mentally ill people that without Tenn Care expansion will not have any access to services.

If they do not have help with their lives the consequences of their living will impact all of us. They already do. They fill our jails, our streets, our communities.

A total of 80,000 people with some degree of mental health issues will remain uninsured barring expansion. It is the right thing to do financially, socially, and morally. It is the right thing for Tennessee.

Please speak out. Expand Tenn Care.

Until tomorrow,

Larry Drain

Posted on May 30, 2014

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Larry Drain, Legislative Liaison on State Legislative Affairs
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Dear Governor Haslam

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