NASHVILLE, Tenn. - President Barack Obama is headed to Nashville Wednesday.
Monday, The White House announced the President will travel to Music City to speak on the Affordable Care Act. The visit comes on the heels of a big Supreme Court victory upholding the government program.
The President will make his comments at Taylor Stratton Elementary school in Madison. Preparations were under way at the school Tuesday.
You may encounter some traffic issues Wednesday between the airport and the school which is located on Old Hickory Boulevard between the lunch hour and late afternoon. Many roads will be closed briefly during the Presidents visit.
Metro Police warn if your drive home takes you near the airport during the early part of rush hour to consider an alternate route.
Police say over 120 officers will be assisting the Secret Service with security.
The President has invited health care professionals and people who have benefited from reforms that have been put in place in Tennessee to participate in the event.
Press Secretary Josh Ernest says the goal is to lower cost of health care and improving outcomes for patients, which Tennessee has been able to do.
"The state of Tennessee has actually done some really important work in accomplishing many of the goals the President himself has been advocating for here in Washington D.C., and that is to reform our health care system in a way that improves outcomes, that puts an emphasis on insuring quality of health care and not the quantity of health care," said Earnest.
Tennessee Republican Congresswoman Diane Black says the Affordable Care Act has not contained costs and additional increases are expected.
"When we see rates going up by 36 percent, and I see the people who are not saving money, the President promised that this law was going to save $2500 per family on an average. We're seeing rates go up. We're seeing deductibles being so high that even though people have so called insurance they really don't have coverage.," said Representative Black.
Over 16 million Americans have obtained health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
NewsChannel 5 will have complete coverage of the President's visit on air and streaming online at NewsChannel5.com.
Wednesday will make the President's third visit to the midstate in six months.
