Feud erupts during hearing on TennCare

A simmering feud among members of legislative TennCare Oversight Committee erupted Wednesday as the chairman hastily adjourned a meeting rather than take testimony from parents unhappy with how their children had been treated by the TennCare system.

Rep. Gene Caldwell (D-Clinton) gaveled the meeting to an end about 3:20 p.m. when Sen. Roy Herron, a former chairman of the panel, invited citizens from East Tennessee to testify about how their children had been treated. Many had waited since 1:30 p.m. to be heard.

Caldwell collected his documents and said,