By Todd Hatton
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Senate has approved a bill to allow state hospitals pay a fee to avoid $659 million in TennCare cuts. The measure sponsored by Republican Senator Doug Overbey passed on a 25-5 vote Thursday. Four of the votes against the bill came from Republicans, including one who is running for governor and two running for Congress. Overbey says the bill would bar hospitals from passing on to patients the $239 million assessment they are raising to draw down federal funds. The House version is scheduled for a vote on Monday.