Prevent DMRS Cuts

The purpose in this website is to allow the public to learn about what DMRS is planning to do with their budget, the provided services and how drastically the changes will effect (and has effected) those recieving services. We hope that you will find the information posted on this site helpful. It is our ultimate hope that the public will come to realize how millions of our tax dollars have been mismanaged, services either denied or cut and finally...that if any more cuts go through then there may likely be many individuals suffering without proper services. As a matter of fact, there have already been a number of services cut from individuals who needed services. As a result, these individuals are suffering and have been placed in harms way.  Likewise, citizens in our communities have been placed in significant harm. Some of our lawmakers have yet to be able to understand the seriousness in the present situation.

"Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance."  Samuel Johnson

Below are the salaries for some key state of TN and DMRS employee's.  We must wonder
how each one of these people would  be able  to manage if their paychecks were reduced by 6.1% or perhaps by 12%. One also must wonder how these individuals can live with themselves knowing that disabled and  sick people are losing services that essentially help them survive while they  live in mega houses and drive luxury vehicles.

More importantly though, we must ALL ask why in the hell most of these folks received pay raises  while TN providers were forced to cut back on their staff and enduring rate cuts.


 Name

Position

 2006-2007 Salary

2007-2008 Hourly Wage 2007-2008 Salary
Thomas Catron TennCare Director $206.004.00 $108.81 NA
Darin Gordon TennCare Deputy Commissioner $199,315.00 $105.64 $206,004.00
Brent Antony TennCare Information Systems Director $164,448.00 $86.86 $169,380.00
Merritt Goetz Finance and Administration Commissioner $144, 042.00 $92.31 $180,000.00
William Ezell Finance and Administration Chief of Information Systems  $139,666.00 $79.23 NA

 Steve Norris

Mental Retardation Deputy Commissioner

$138,758.00

$72.16 $140,712.00
Phillip Bredresen State Governor ***$127,076.99 $79.48 ***$158,718.00
James Morrow Finance and Administration Deputy Commissioner $119,282.00 $60.60 $118,176.00
Eugene Grasser TennCare Director of Operations $118,758.00 $65.14 $127,020.00
Patti Killingsworth Assistant Commissioner $117,629.00 $64.87 $126,504.00
Dong Zhao Siegel TennCare Managed Care Analytics Director $109.306.00 $57.13 $111,396.00
Betty Boner TennCare General Counsel $101.354.00 $52.40 $102,180.00
Susie Baird TennCare Executive Administrative Assistant $100,358.00 $53.88 $105,060.00

 Joann Damons

Mental Retardation Administrator

 $100, 202.00

$51.95 $101,304.00

 Fred Hix

Assistant Admistrator

 $98,438.00

$50.23 $97,944.00
William Griswold TennCare Assistant Inspector General $98,290.00 $50.36 $98,196.00
Robert Hagan TennCare Managed Care Division Director $97,860.00 $51.69 $100,800.00
Keth Gatther TennCare Fiscal Director $93,026.00 $52.59 $102,552.00

 Debbie Payne

Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program Coordinator

 $80, 602.00

$41.02 $101,060.00
  ***Governor Bredresen reportedly donates all of his salary back to Tennessee. Prior to the buyout, there were over 900
state employees last year that made over $90,000.00 a year. 
Source: The Tennessean

All of the previous links have been moved to a separate page due to the large amount of space that the links covered. Click on the following link to read all of the critical, interesting, and important information entailed in the previous links. 

All links and information posted during the months of January-December 2008

June 2009

May 2009

April 2009

 

 

 

 

 

February 2009

State of TN gets it handed to them with their "motion to vacate" being denied

Our Governor is under attack
Our Governor realizes the truth

If he removed hundreds of thousands of Tennessee residents from Tenncare then just multiply our figure by 50 and you can get a good idea of what kind of job he would do as the Health and Human Services Secretary. 

Working for Health Care Justice

January 2009

Sonnenschein Wins Agreement in Landmark Civil Rights Class Action

 

Sonnenschein, in conjunction with Equip for Equality, Access Living and the ACLU, has announced a groundbreaking agreement in a class action lawsuit brought against the State of Illinois for its ongoing violation of the civil rights of people with developmental disabilities.  The agreement, when approved by the court, will bring justice to people with developmental disabilities, giving them the choice to receive long-term care services in integrated community settings.  As a result, they no longer will be compelled to live in segregated institutions in order to receive the services they require.

 "People With Developmental Disabilities Celebrate Agreement with State of Illinois in Landmark Lawsuit".
"Sonnenschein Secures Pro Bono Class Action Victory for Disabled Clients"

"Accord Ends Lawsuit Over Housing for Disabled"

Stealing from the poor and giving to the folks listed in the table at the top of the main page

TN budget doubles in two decades

Cuts in Family Support Program begin to hurt

We received the following information from a very reliable source via email. 

"Evidently, some conservators of class members have called the ARC to ask for an advocate and they were told they should not be calling them and that it was the ISC's job to send referrals if needed and that they should be doing their job. However, the ISCs--and the rest of the world for that matter --  just received the form and information on how to do that.  What a wonderful  way to transition conservators and families to the change!"

Rumor has it that The ARC of TENNESSEE’s is looking for a new director…..This exit includes a welcome at DMRS…..Now whose team have they been playing on all this time???   Must be the one the referee’s were on a few weeks ago at the Titans game.  One can wonder how they have really advocated for the people when they have been in bed with the state all this time……  Great BETRAYAL!!!  I am sure the DMRS supported individuals thank you for your great work on their behalf! 

Provider sends letter to Norris

TN to attempt to minimize budget cuts

Judge rules TN can review TNCare eligibility

LET US ALL TAKE TURNS TUCKING THE ADVOCATES AND DMRS REGIONAL OFFICES INTO THEIR BED, AS THEY SEEM TO BE SHARING THE SAME BEDROOM NOW.

"I just learned that the Arc of TN has hired someone to be their Advocacy Coordinator. This person is a woman that works currently for the DMRS East Tn Regional Office. A very respected agency provider had many bad experiences with her. So it looks even worse for hoping that there might be someone to stand up for people. As if this isn't bad enough, the advocates in the regions will be housed in the DMRS Regional Offices. "

Below is an email sent to us from a concerned citizen...stating the truth.

Dear TN Justice Center,

 I recently sent an email to my [family members'] court monitor.   I am forwarding you a copy and would like to speak with someone from your office.  My parent/guardian friends and I want to be part of the solution.  Please let us know how we can be of service.  People with developmental disabilities are counting on us to resolve and provide.

 Just as the Crabtree Case is against the ADA, so must be the following violations against people with DD and those served by the Medicaid Waiver by DMRS:   unapproved by CMS new DMRS protocols, life-time long waiting list, cuts to agencies who provide direct care, lack of direct care services/necessary equipment, lowering ICAP standardized testing scores without meeting the individual (to cut program),  lowering the "level of need" without meeting the individual, cutting PA hours, not approving needed therapies, bulling families, and much more.

 We have asked CMS to investigate and fact find.  CMS recommended contacting the state Attorney Gen. Office.  It sure would be a lot less expensive for the state to just take care of its individuals on the Waiver.  TN would save tremendously in legal fees and less emergency hospitalizations alone.

Finally, at least someone gets it

What's next ...a DMRS related eharmony.com spin off website for the consumers?

Holy Cow!...The Arc is doing something to help

   Visitors since January 12, 2008

 
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