Tolling of the Bell --- TennCare - July 28th through July 31st

[emdee]

1. Very sick people are already being terminated, over 2,000/day are getting their letters of termination.
2. On July 31, 323,000 people will totally lose their drug coverage even they may not lose their TennCare until sometime in August.
3. On July 31, about 396,000 adults on TennCare will face severe drug and benefit limits.

Tolling of the Bell: Beginning at 12:00 Noon on Thursday, July 28, and ending at 8:48 PM on Sunday, July 31,enrollees, volunteers, family members and friends will be tolling a BELL for the 719,000 TennCare enrollees who will be losing their health care benefits - 323,000 enrollees who are being totally cut from the program and 396,000 who are facing very severe benefit limitations beginning July 31, 2005.

For thousands of these folks, TennCare has been their life line. As Tennesseans and as people of faith and as a civil society, we cannot let this tragic decision go unwitnessed. This is truly a mark of failure of our government and severely impacts the people whom it is supposed to represent.

Bell No man is an island, entire of itself
every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main
if a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were,
as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were
any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind
and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls
it tolls for thee. John Dunn

Date & Time for Tolling: Thursday, July 28, 12:00 Noon until Sunday, July 31, 8:48 PM - 24/7

Place: North side of Legislative Plaza, sidewalk on Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN, between Legislative Plaza and the Capitol

Tolling of the Bell: Every 4 seconds the Bell will toll. Each toll represents 10 enrollees who are being cut off or facing severe benefit limits. By 8:48 PM on Sunday, July 31, the bell will have tolled for all 719,000 TennCare enrollees.

Volunteers are needed from every county: A Volunteer leader is needed for each county to coordinate other who are willing to come to Nashville to toll the bell. county volunteers This is one more and important chance to let your voice be heard!!!! Please step forward and respond to Pam Duzak.

How to sign up to toll the bell?
Email Pam Duzak at [e-mail].

You can call her during the week from 5:00 to 9:00 PM during the week and on the weekend at 615-356-6474. However, she would perfer you to email. Pam needs the following information from each volunteer: First and last name, day and night telephone number, mailing address, and your commitment to come to Nashville to toll the bell for your fellow Tennesseans.

WHEN does your county get to toll the bell at the Capitol? See times below:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Press conference at 11:30 with people telling how these cuts will harm their lives.

The Tolling of the Bell starts at 12:00 with Anderson County.

The Bell will toll every 4 seconds. Each toll will represent 10 of the 719,000 enrollees being cut: 323,000 cut off and 396,000 with severe benefit cuts. People from each county will come to Nashville to toll the bell.

1 Anderson - Thursday, 12:00 Noon - 9,770 people, friends & neighbors being cut
2 Bedford - Thursday, 1:05 PM - 5,153 people, friends & neighbors being cut
3 Benton - Thursday, 1:39 PM - 4,307 people, friends & neighbors being cut
4 Bledsoe - Thursday, 2:08 PM - 2,869 people, friends & neighbors being cut
5 Blount - Thursday, 2:27 PM - 12,606 people, friends & neighbors being cut
6 Bradley - Thursday, 3:51 PM - 10,634 people, friends & neighbors being cut
7 Campbell - Thursday, 5:02 PM - 9,049 people, friends & neighbors being cut
8 Cannon -Thursday, 6:02 PM - 2,417 people, friends & neighbors being cut
9 Carroll - Thursday, 6:18 PM - 6,418 people, friends & neighbors being cut
10 Carter - Thursday, 7:00 PM - 12,190 people, friends & neighbors being cut
11 Cheathan - Thursday, 8:21 PM - 4,176 people, friends & neighbors being cut
12 Chester - Thursday, 8:49 PM - 2,295 people, friends & neighbors being cut
13 Claiborne - Thursday, 9:04 PM - 7,375 people, friends & neighbors being cut
14 Clay - Thursday, 10:53 PM - 2,380 people, friends & neighbors being cut
15 Cocke - Thursday, 11:08 PM - 9,220 people, friends & neighbors being cut
16 Coffee - Friday, 12:09 AM - 6,734 people, friends & neighbors being cut
17 Crockett - Friday, 12:54 AM - 2,758 people, friends & neighbors being cut
18 Cumberland - Friday, 1:12 AM - 8,661 people, friends & neighbors being cut
19 Davidson - Friday, 2:10 AM - 47,830 people, friends & neighbors being cut
20 Decatur - Friday, 7:29 AM - 2,716 people, friends & neighbors being cut
21 DeKalb - Friday, 7:47 AM - 3,390 people, friends & neighbors being cut
22 Dickson - Friday, 8:10 AM - 4,801 people, friends & neighbors being cut
23 Dyer - Friday, 8:42 AM - 6,927 people, friends & neighbors being cut
24 Fayette - Friday, 9:28 AM - 4,476 people, friends & neighbors being cut
25 Fentress - Friday, 9:58 AM - 6,402 people, friends & neighbors being cut
26 Franklin - Friday, 10:41 AM - 5,222 people, friends & neighbors being cut
27 Gibson - Friday, 11:16 AM - 7,179 people, friends & neighbors being cut
28 Giles - Friday, 12:04 PM - 4,454 people, friends & neighbors being cut
29 Grainger - Friday, 12:34 PM - 5,298 people, friends & neighbors being cut
30 Greene - Friday, 1:09 PM - 9,225 people, friends & neighbors being cut
31 Grundy - Friday, 2:10 PM - 4,830 people, friends & neighbors being cut
32 Hamblen - Friday, 2:42 PM - 8,977 people, friends & neighbors being cut
33 Hamilton - Friday, 3;42 PM -29,481 people, friends & neighbors being cut
34 Hancock - Friday, 6:59 PM - 2,437 people, friends & neighbors being cut
35 Hardeman - Friday, 7:15 PM - 4,267 people, friends & neighbors being cut
36 Hardin - Friday, 7:43 PM - 7,065 people, friends & neighbors being cut
37 Hawkins - Friday, 8:30 PM - 10,464 people, friends & neighbors being cut
38 Haywood - Friday, 9:40 PM - 2,756 people, friends & neighbors being cut
39 Henderson - Friday, 9:58 PM - 5,011 people, friends & neighbors being cut
40 Henry - Friday, 10:31 PM - 5,443 people, friends & neighbors being cut
41 Hickman - Friday, 11:07 PM - 3,891 people, friends & neighbors being cut
42 Houston - Friday, 11:33 PM - 1,434 people, friends & neighbors being cut
43 Humphreys - Friday, 11:43 PM - 2,872 people, friends & neighbors being cut
44 Jackson - Saturday, 12:02 AM - 2,972 people, friends & neighbors being cut
45 Jefferson - Saturday, 12:22 AM - 8,205 people, friends & neighbors being cut
46 Johnson - Saturday, 1:17 AM - 4,412 people, friends & neighbors being cut
47 Knox - Saturday, 1:46 AM - 34,875 people, friends & neighbors being cut
48 Lake - Saturday, 5:38 AM - 1,358 people, friends & neighbors being cut
49 Lauderdale - Saturday, 5:47 AM - 4,523 people, friends & neighbors being cut
50 Lawrence - Saturday, 6:17 AM - 7,938 people, friends & neighbors being cut
51 Lewis - Saturday, 7:10 AM - 3,005 people, friends & neighbors being cut
52 Lincoln - Saturday, 7:30 AM - 5,033 people, friends & neighbors being cut
53 Loudon - Saturday, 8:04 AM - 5,910 people, friends & neighbors being cut
54 Macon - Saturday, 8:43 AM - 4,051 people, friends & neighbors being cut
55 Madison - Saturday, 9:10 AM - 10,224 people, friends & neighbors being cut
56 Marion - Saturday, 10:18 AM - 5,260 people, friends & neighbors being cut
57 Marshall - Saturday, 10:53 AM - 2,932 people, friends & neighbors being cut
58 Maury - Saturday, 11:13 AM - 7,775 people, friends & neighbors being cut
59 McMinn - Saturday, 12:05 PM - 8,423 people, friends & neighbors being cut
60 McNairy - Saturday, 1:01 PM - 6,511 people, friends & neighbors being cut
61 Meigs - Saturday, 1:44 PM - 2,814 people, friends & neighbors being cut
62 Monroe - Saturday, 2:03 PM - 8,336 people, friends & neighbors being cut
63 Montgomery - Saturday, 2:59 PM - 9,946 people, friends & neighbors being cut
64 Moore - Saturday, 4:05 PM - 743 people, friends & neighbors being cut
65 Morgan - Saturday, 4:12 PM - 5,456 people, friends & neighbors being cut
66 Obion - Saturday, 4:48 PM - 4,205 people, friends & neighbors being cut
67 Overton - Saturday, 5:16 PM - 4,350 people, friends & neighbors being cut
68 Perry - Saturday, 5:45 PM - 1,449 people, friends & neighbors being cut
69 Pickett - Saturday, 5:55 PM - 1,520 people, friends & neighbors being cut
70 Polk - Saturday, 6:05 PM - 3,277 people, friends & neighbors being cut
71 Putnam - Saturday, 6:27 PM - 9,371 people, friends & neighbors being cut
72 Rhea - Saturday, 7:29 PM - 5,198 people, friends & neighbors being cut
73 Roane - Saturday, 8:04 PM - 8,361 people, friends & neighbors being cut
74 Robertson - Saturday, 9:00 PM - 5,917 people, friends & neighbors being cut
75 Rutherford - Saturday, 9:39 PM - 14,616 people, friends & neighbors being cut
76 Scott - Saturday, 11:15 PM - 6,536 people, friends & neighbors being cut
77 Sequatche - Sunday, 11:59 AM - 2,340 people, friends & neighbors being cut
78 Sevier - Sunday, 12:15 AM - 12,686 people, friends & neighbors being cut
79 Shelby - Sunday, 1:40 AM - 68,610 people, friends & neighbors being cut
80 Smith - Sunday, 9:17 AM - 2,818 people, friends & neighbors being cut
81 Stewart - Sunday, 9:36 AM - 1,736 people, friends & neighbors being cut
82 Sullivan - Sunday, 9:48 AM - 19,811 people, friends & neighbors being cut
83 Sumner - Sunday, 12:00 PM - 13,038 people, friends & neighbors being cut
84 Tipton - Sunday, 1:27 PM - 6,972 people, friends & neighbors being cut
85 Trousdale - Sunday, 2:13 PM - 1,667 people, friends & neighbors being cut
86 Unicoi - Sunday, 2:24 PM - 3,815 people, friends & neighbors being cut
87 Union - Sunday, 2:49 PM - 3,982 people, friends & neighbors being cut
88 Van Buren - Sunday, 3:16 PM1,574 people, friends & neighbors being cut
89 Warren - Sunday, 3:26 PM -7,221 people, friends & neighbors being cut
90 Washington - Sunday, 4:14 PM - 13,040 people, friends & neighbors being cut
91 Wayne - Sunday, 5:41 PM - 3,604 people, friends & neighbors being cut
92 Weakley - Sunday, 6:05 PM - 5,020 people, friends & neighbors being cut
93 White - Sunday, 6:38 PM - 4,895 people, friends & neighbors being cut
94 Williamson - Sunday, 7:11 PM - 6,215 people, friends & neighbors being cut
95 Wilson - Sunday, 7:52 PM - 8,403 people, friends & neighbors being cut
Ending of the tolling of the bell - 8:48 PM - Candel Light Vigil will follow.

People of faith, enrollees, advocates and family members need to step forward. This tragic event needs to be witnessed. We cannot let this go unnoticed. We cannot let our stories be left untold.
Email Pam Duzak at [e-mail].
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Tony Garr
Tennessee Health Care Campaign
1103 Chapel Ave.
Nashville, TN 37206
1-800-280-8682

[cap]

1. Is there anything non-Tennesse people can do?

This is just dreadful.

[emdee]

2. It is bad....

Thanks for asking. I'm not sure that TN residents will be able to accomplish anything much less non-residents. It's terrible. Many of our elderly will have to do without their meds.

There is a website that everyone can share so that hopefully people will not go without. It is www.helpingpatients.org - this can be used by anyone in any state and it checks to see if there are programs available to help with drugs that cannot be afforded.

Prayers are very welcome in TN right now.

emdee

[Egalia]

3. What you can do - this is a national issue

Whether we win or lose this battle in Tennessee, it will have serious implications for the rest of the country. Tennessee's Governor is attempting to make the largest cuts in the history of the country.

Above all else, he is a politician, if he thinks this is going to hurt him at next year's election, and it is, he can be persuaded to sing a new song. His poll numbers have dropped dramatically.

What You Can Do:

Tell Governor Bredesen you oppose his plan to cut TennCare:

Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]


Sign the petition to Governor Bredesen


http://www.familiesusa.org/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=2160&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr006=3fxh4yk5x1.app23a


From Families USA:

As you read this e-mail, a group of courageous activists is occupying Governor Phil Bredesen’s office in Nashville, Tennessee. In a last-ditch effort to defeat the governor’s plan to cut over 300,000 people off TennCare (the state’s Medicaid program) and severely restrict health care for 700,000 others, this group of activists—many of whom rely on TennCare themselves—has been occupying the Governor’s office for the last 26 days. They are summoning the best American traditions of civil disobedience to defend the lives and welfare of their fellow Tennesseans—and they need your help.

Show them your support by visiting the Tennessee Health Care Campaign’s Web site. There you can make a donation and find other ways to support the work of these activists.

Why Is Tennessee So Important?

Tennessee is Ground Zero for the fight in the states to preserve Medicaid. No other state plan currently on the table proposes to cut so many of its citizens off Medicaid, seeks to restrict care as severely for others, or is being put forth as model for national Medicaid “reform” by a Governor with a rising national profile. If the Bredesen plan for “reform” succeeds, it could become the model for the nation. We’re asking you to support the activists occupying the Governor’s office because they are literally on the front lines of the battle to preserve Medicaid.

Links to coverage of the TennCare Protest are here:
http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2005/07/tenncare-bell-will-toll-for-victims-of.html