NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A proposal that would require the governor to get legislative approval for any potential deal to expand Medicaid in Tennessee has passed the Senate.
The measure sponsored by Republican Brian Kelsey of Germantown was approved 23-6 on Thursday. The House passed the legislation 69-24 last month.
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has pledged that he would seek legislative approval to expand TennCare, the state's Medicaid program that provides health care for 1.2 million Tennesseans.
Haslam said last month that he has asked U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to make a counterproposal to Tennessee's efforts to carve out a special deal for Medicaid expansion.
The governor last year declined to accept the Medicaid money without special arrangements for the state. Negotiations have so far been fruitless.
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