Health group volunteers Tennessee as test site for universal coverage

While Washington has put health reform on the fast track, a group of Tennessee thought leaders wants to see a more gradual approach that uses Tennessee, and perhaps a few others, as laboratories to test ideas, improve access to care, and trim medical costs. Under its proposal, The Rolling Hills Group recommends phasing in universal coverage over 10 years at a rough cost of $100 billion a year. The group includes representatives of private business, hospitals, and an ex-BlueCross BlueShield executive.