After Protests And Arrests, Tennessee Activists Still Press Governor For Medicaid Expansion

Last edited Sun Apr 23, 2017, 12:55 AM - Edit history (1)

Healthcare activists say they will continue protesting at the Capitol until the state expands Medicaid. A group called Moral Movement Tennessee talked to reporters Monday, about a week after 11 people were arrested during a sit-in at Gov. Bill Haslam’s office.

The group implored him to call a special session to expand state healthcare coverage, saying more than 280,000 in Tennessee would receive healthcare if Medicaid was expanded. Haslam's office told the Tennessean he was out of town when the sit-in occurred and declined to comment.

Ellen McPherson, 75, was one of the 11 arrested last week. The former nurse says she believes the refusal to expand Medicaid is a moral issue.

"It hurts my heart that they won't call a special session to expand Medicaid," she says. "It would mean so much to these people. It doesn't seem fair that the legislatures are covered with insurance but they won't cover all these people."

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