Here's What Happens When Elected Officials Kowtow to the Tea Party

With Hospitals Under Stress, Tennessee's Governor Pursues Medicaid Expansion.  (The New York Times, 12/15/2014)

State coverage

Tennessee's rural hospitals cut services, staff to the bone.  (The Tennessean, 12/1/2013)

But you'll never get the wingnuts to believe this.  (Part 1)

About 8,000 more people would get coverage in the counties served by Henry County Medical Center if Tennessee expanded its Medicaid program, said Tom Gee, the hospital’s chief executive officer. He described the financial problems exacerbated by political conflicts over the health law as “the most serious threat to our institution” in the 23 years he has been at the helm.

Rural hospital in Tennessee is set to close.  (The Tennessean, 4/19/2014)

But you'll never get the wingnuts to believe this.  (Part 2) 

Tennessee’s failure to expand its Medicaid program was a contributing factor for the decision, said W. Larry Cash, the chief financial officer of Franklin-based Community Health Systems.

Coverage gap leaves rural Tennessee hospital on life support.  (Memphis Daily News, 9/13/2014)

But you'll never get the wingnuts to believe this.  (Part 3)

That’s the fallout, some say, from Gov. Bill Haslam’s decision not to join the Affordable Care Act in 2013 and tap into millions in promised federal funds for Tennessee’s financially-strapped health care institutions.