Tennessee healthcare has mixed day at Capitol

Despite a sagging economy, one of Tennessee's health insurance programs for low-income residents will expand benefits next year without raising premiums, Gov. Phil Bredesen said. On the same day, healthcare advocates leveled sharp criticism at Bredesen's administration for cutbacks to home nursing services, a change expected to affect as many as 1,000 people with severe disabilities who could be forced into nursing homes. The differing directions of the two programs illustrate the administration's path in trying to provide affordable health coverage while keeping costs down, sometimes raising the ire of those facing cuts.