Closing Plenary: Closing the Coverage Gap: Legislative Lessons
This session will highlight the successful expansion of Medicaid to low-income adults in Montana, the passage of Medicaid expansion legislation in Mississippi, and how these efforts might impact legislative efforts in Tennessee Edward Butt. State Representative Rey (R) of Montana was key to passage of the Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership (HELP) Act which provided coverage of health care services and work-readiness programs to low-income Montanans. State Senator John Horhn (D) of Mississippi was one of the co-sponsors of bi-partisan Medicaid expansion bills that passed both chambers but stalled in conference committee over the issue of work requirements. State Senator Becky Duncan Massey of Tennessee is a long-time member of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, and an effective sponsor of legislation to improve access to maternal health, mental health, and comprehensive services for disabled Tennesseans. Carole Myers PhD, RN, FAAN is a Fellow at the Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement at George Washington University, Professor in the College of Nursing at UTK, and host of Health Connections radio program
Panelists: Honorable John Horhn, Mississippi State Senate, Honorable Ed Buttrey, Montana State House and Senate, Senator Beckey Duncan-Massey, Tennessee State Senate
Moderator: Carole Myers, PhD, RN
Senator John Horhn is in his 32nd year as a member of the Mississippi Senate, where he has been a champion for small business development and the City of Jackson. He serves parts of Hinds and Madison Counties in District 26. Prior to his election, his public service included serving as program manager at the Mississippi Art Commission, director of the Mississippi Film Office, director of the Mississippi Tourism Office, and executive director of the Governor’s Office of Federal/State Programs.
Senator Horhn is Chairman of the Housing Committee in the Senate, vice chairman of Veterans and Military Affairs, and his other committees include Medicaid, Finance, Energy, Tourism, Business and Financial Institutions, and Labor. For 12 years, he chaired the Senate Economic Development Committee. John has sponsored and/or led the passage of bills authorizing more than $1billion in projects specifically to support the City of Jackson, including public facilities, hotels, museums, and water/sewer improvements.
In private life, Senator Horhn works as a business development consultant in healthcare, housing, engineering, and small business development. An accomplished actor and story-teller, John is a member of the Screen Actors’ Guild, and he has appeared in numerous TV and film projects. He is married to the former Lydia Gail Cole, and they are the proud parents of two children.
Representative F. Edward Buttrey is a 4th generation Montanan, residing in Great Falls, MT. A former weapon’s systems designer, he now owns businesses in real estate development, manufacturing, high tech, retail, restaurant, casino, resort, and economic development industries. Ed Buttrey was elected to the Montana State House in 2018, and formerly to the Montana Senate in 2010, where he has held leadership positions in each of the legislative sessions. He is the former two-term Majority Whip in the Montana Senate and two-term Chairman of the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee. He is also the past Chairman of the Senate Legislative Admin, and Senate Local Government Committees as well as past Vice Chairman of various other committees. Currently he serves on the House Rules Committee, the House Health and Human Services Committee and Chairs the House Business and Labor Committee. Representative Buttrey serves as the current Chairman of Benefits Health Systems, and has also served as a Fire Department Captain, Emergency Medical Technician, Search and Rescue Director, Chairman of the Great Falls International Airport Authority, and football radio announcer.
In addition to currently serving as Representative for House District 21, he also serves as the Area Chairman for Employers Support of Guard and Reserve, as a high school varsity football coach, and sits on numerous other community Boards. He is married (Jessica) with three daughters (Kenzy, Macy, TayLee).
Senator Becky Duncan-Massey was elected to the 6th Senatorial District in November 2011. She serves as the chairman of the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee and also serves on the Health and Welfare Committee.
Becky retired from the Sertoma Center after 24 years having served as the executive director. The center assists adults with intellectual disabilities by providing employment training and job skills, housing, and community interactions, thus enabling individuals to find purpose and succeed.
Giving back to the community is very important to Becky. She has volunteered on the board of directors of the Akima Club of Knoxville, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Overlook Center, the University of Knoxville, Tennessee Alumni Chapter, and as the events director of the Dogwood
Arts Festival. She also served as the vice president of American Savings and Loan and spent time as an adjunct professor at Walters State Community College. Growing up in Knoxville, the values of public service and helping others were instilled in Becky at a young age. Her late father John J. Duncan Sr. served as Mayor of Knoxville and as United States Congressman. Her brother John J. Duncan Jr. retired having followed in their father’s footsteps as a U.S. Congressman. The Duncan family continues to devote a life of service to their community, state, and country.
Becky Duncan Massey and her husband Morton have been married since 1976, both earning bachelor’s degrees from the University of Tennessee. They are proud parents of two adult daughters, Courtney and Kristen, and granddaughter Bailey. The Masseys are members at NewLife Gathering Church.
Dr. Myers is a Professor Emeritus in the College of Nursing at UTK. Myers uses policy, advocacy, and traditional and social media to promote population health, focusing on healthcare access, rural health and healthcare disparities, and Medicaid. She conducts research that centers on policymaking and health services, emphasizing access to care, TennCare, public health programs, and the impact of media engagement on health and health care. Myers is the creator and host of HealthConnections, an award-winning radio show on WUOT, the Knoxville NPR affiliate, and a frequent writer of OpEds, blogs, and articles and columns for professional journals on policy issues.