On March 21, a grassroots coalition of more than 70 citizens, businesspeople and community leaders launched a series of billboards throughout the state calling on Speaker Beth Harwell to demonstrate leadership on Insure TN and bring the measure for a full vote.
The campaign – called Citizens for Insure TN: Get on Board – grew out of the efforts of two Nashville citizens – Mary Falls and Sally Smallwood who purchased several billboards in Nashville in February asking Harwell’s help on Insure TN. Their initiative attracted widespread attention and support from concerned citizens across the state, and more than 70 individuals offered to purchase additional billboards in their communities.
Among those who volunteered to purchase billboards are Nashville community leader Martha Ingram, retired CEO of Shelby County Common Table Health Alliance Reneé Frazier, retired minister Rev. Ed Wolff of the Tri-Cities area, Nashville business leader Curt Thorne, Mary Jo Middlebrooks of the Jackson Area Business and Professional Women, Molly Mann from the Tullahoma area, Cookeville couple Diane and Dr. Sam Glasgow, Professor Pippa Holloway and MTSU students in Murfreesboro, healthcare worker Katherlyn Geter in Chattanooga, Montgomery County Commissioner Jason Hodges, and retired carpenter Todd Shelton in Knoxville. The new billboards are located in each of those areas, crossing the state.
The billboards call for Harwell to demonstrate leadership by bringing Insure TN to a full vote so that the 280,000 people living in the so-called healthcare coverage gap can receive the insurance that the federal government has agreed to provide them. The billboards feature the types of working Tennesseans who fall in the gap – veterans, construction workers, waitresses, and musicians.
"No more kicking the can down the road,” said Mary Falls, a Nashville lawyer. “The time has come for our Speaker to stand up for hardworking Tennesseans, for veterans, for our economy and jobs, for our rural healthcare system and to show courage and leadership. The Legislature needs to get on board with the will of the people."
Proposed by Governor Bill Haslam, Insure TN would have zero impact on the state budget because the federal government and Tennessee hospitals have agreed to cover 100 percent of the costs associated with it. Yet to date, the plan has languished in the General Assembly with no action.
Falls and Smallwood first became actively involved in Insure TN last year when they met with Harwell to ask what they could do to help pass the measure. Speaker Harwell suggested that they raise public awareness and support, which the pair did through a series of public meetings. Still the legislation went nowhere.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, Falls and Smallwood pooled their funds to launch the first billboard campaign in February in Nashville. It struck a nerve across the state and that campaign is now going statewide.
“This is the best shot in our lifetimes for Tennessee to pull itself up from the bottom of the national rankings in virtually every health measurement. And it won’t cost the state a dime.” said Smallwood. “Let’s get it done now.”
