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Haslam Hits the Road to Promote Insure Tennessee Proposal

Governor Bill Haslam is kicking off a statewide tour to promote his proposal to extend health coverage to more than 200,000 low-income Tennesseans.

Haslam began his tour on Wednesday, meeting with health officials and state lawmakers at hospitals in Jackson and Memphis. The governor said he would make up to eight more stops around the state in advance of a Feb. 2 legislative session to take up his proposal called Insure Tennessee.

While Haslam stresses the market-based nature of his plan, several fellow Republicans in the Legislature have balked over drawing down federal money available under President Barack Obama's health care law.

Haslam argues the proposal differs from straight Medicaid expansion adopted in other states because it would require co-pays and offer vouchers to buy private insurance.