Lou Gehrig's Patient Kicked Off TennCare

Call it another TennCare casualty. Back in August, Anthony Meeks received a letter from TennCare Saying his coverage was being cut off. Meeks was dropped, and now family and friends are fighting to get his 24 hour nursing care back.

"I was diagnosed, I kept on working until it wasn't possible for me to do it anymore then I had to take an early retirement," said Anthony Meeks, who lives with Lou Gehrig's Disease.

"He was very outgoing, very active into the fire department, he was a first responder, working 2 to 3 jobs all the time, very active with friends socially," says his mother, Mae Bell Meeks. "He was always healthy, we didn't expect this."

It was 1996 when Anthony Meeks first realized he could no longer do simple things like button his shirt. The next year, doctors diagnosed him with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

"It's just a slow progressive disease and it gets worse every year," said his mother.

Doctors first told Meeks he would only live 5 years. The disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord stripped him of his independence. His quality of life diminished drastically over time.

12 years after the diagnosis, he is bedridden and totally dependent on others for care.

Back in August, the Meeks family received a letter from TennCare. In it, they were told, Anthony's eligibility into the state's managed Medicare program would be re-evaluated.

"He had 24 hour a day, 7 day a week nursing care one day, the next day he had nothing," said family friend Robin Barnes.

In January, a federal judge lifted a two decade old injunction which prevented the bureau from re-verifying the eligibility of those members in the 'Daniels Class,' a group of enrollees who once received supplemental security income.

According to Barnes, "he was kicked out the TennCare program because his income was too high."

In the letter, Meeks is told his income is over the limit. Meeks says his retirement check is 300 dollars too much every month, despite his critical condition. According to the TennCare requirements, Meeks would have to make less than $677 per month. Barnes calls their decision a tragedy.

"The program needs to be changed, the TennCare program needs to have some fundamental changes because somebody in this situation shouldn't have to worry about if they can have care."

Struggling to form every work, Anthony agrees. "It feels like I'm being punished because I worked."

Anthony is on a ventilator with a feeding tube that requires around the clock care. For now, his family is providing that, but it's taking a toll on them.

Family members have garnered the attention of local politicians, but say their cries for help have fallen on deaf ears on the state level.

"The governor is not returning phone calls, we really need the governor to open his eyes and see what's happening," said Barnes.

Family members say TennCare Representatives say its costing too much to care for Meeks at home, and suggested moving him to a nursing home. Family members cringe at the thought.

His mother said, "He couldn't get the care one on one, they don't have the staff to do it."

For now, the family is taking turns, rotating shifts to stay at his bedside while they wait, hope, and pray lawmakers will overhaul what they describe as a very, broken system.