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Five years in, families and state audit say Tennessee's Katie Beckett Medicaid waiver program is working

The waiver allows families to get help from TennCare even though they otherwise make too much money to qualify.

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn — It's been nearly five years since Tennessee became the final state to allow kids with long-term medical conditions to sign up for Medicaid benefits. A new state audit has positive reviews, and so do families who are part of the program.

Jeff and Jennifer Ledford's son, Noah, needs constant medical attention and thousands of dollars a month in medications. They and other families started advocating for the Katie Beckett program in 2018.

The waiver allows them to get help from TennCare even though they otherwise make too much money to qualify.

“I remember as soon as we got it, we started the ball rolling on getting services for our son,” Jennifer Ledford said. “Making phone calls to nursing agencies, to doctors, therapies, anything we knew we could that we needed.”

A new state comptroller's report showed the program is working. The report said around 92% of applicants are admitted right away. The Ledfords said it's been life-changing.

“Your entire life before the program was spent in constant caregiver mode,” Jeff Ledford said. “You couldn't go anywhere. You couldn't do anything.”

The Ledfords said Noah’s needs have grown and without the waiver, they would have to follow Medicaid’s original advice to meet the poverty requirements.

“Medicaid told me that I needed to quit my job, and divorce my husband so I could get full Medicaid benefits for my son to get everything it was that we were needing and asking for,” Jennifer Ledford said.

Now, they're spreading the word to other families about the program.

This story was originally reported by WCYB.

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