By Nicole June

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Governor Bill Haslam visited the Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center in Clarksville Tuesday to discuss the details of his proposed health care legislation known as Insure Tennessee.

The proposal would provide insurance coverage for an estimated 270,000 low-income Tennesseans.

The stop was part of a tour of community health care clinics across the state to answer questions from local lawmakers and hear from those working for the facilities.

Many of Haslam’s fellow Republicans have expressed concern over the use of federal money available under President Obama’s health care law.

Earlier on Tuesday, Attorney General Herbert Slatery issued a legal opinion saying the state would be able to cancel the plan if costs were too high, according to the Associated Press.

Haslam addressed this concern Tuesday and said taxpayers would not be responsible for any of the costs of the program, and acknowledged that the state would in fact have that power.

“We received a letter from the Secretary of Heath and Human Services putting it in writing that we are under no obligation to continue it if the state decides to cancel,” he said. “I think one of the concerns from Republicans like me has been whether we are adding to the health care costs or taking away. I think what you’d hear from folks here is getting preventative care up front can prevent some of those catastrophic health care costs that people live with if they don’t have coverage.”

The governor provided a brief outline for the proposal, which would operate through an incentives program. Patients would receive credits for “smart health choices” including routine physicals and avoiding trips to the emergency room for non-emergency situations. These credits could be used toward co-pays in order to minimize expenses for patients.

Haslam will make another stop in Nashville Wednesday and a special session will be called Feb. 2 for the legislature to consider the passage of Insure Tennessee.

If the proposal does not pass, Haslam said there is currently no plan B.

“We obviously think this is the smart thing to do or we wouldn’t be proposing it. If we don’t pass it, there will be some people who need health care coverage that won’t have it, and more importantly, our efforts toward lowering health care costs, which are a part of this, will be delayed as well,” he said.

The governor is scheduled to address the General Assembly Feb. 2 at 6 p.m.

Story and photo by Nicole June