FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 28, 2007

STATEMENT FROM DARIN GORDON, TENNCARE DIRECTOR,
REGARDING SIXTH WAIVER EXENSION FROM FEDS

"The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a sixth temporary extension for TennCare’s waiver through October 15, 2007. CMS has indicated that the federal Office of Budget and Management simply needs additional time to review the negotiated financial arrangement between Tennessee and CMS. From the state’s perspective, recent negotiation efforts have been productive, bringing both sides closer together. Our federal delegation has remained helpful and actively involved. While we understand this is a complex process, we remain hopeful that the federal government will soon grant a fair approval of our waiver.”

TennCare is Tennessee’s expanded Medicaid program, providing health insurance coverage to 1.2 million Tennesseans, including 640,000 children. For more information about TennCare, visit www.tennessee.gov/tenncare

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Editor note: Background information on the previous three waiver extensions from our news release archive can be found at the following web addresses:

September 19, 2007: Statement from Director Gordon regarding fifth federal extension http://state.tn.us/tenncare/news-140907.html

August 31, 2007: Statement from Director Gordon regarding fourth federal extension http://state.tn.us/tenncare/news-310807.html

August 15, 2007: Statement from Director Gordon regarding third federal extension http://state.tn.us/tenncare/news-140807.html

June 29, 2007: News Release: Federal Government Delays TennCare Extension http://state.tn.us/tenncare/news-290607.html

June 13, 2007: News Release: TennCare Contract with Feds Still Unresolved http://state.tn.us/tenncare/news-130707.html

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