The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 5

www.dnj.com THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 1 A5 STATE OBITUARIES Cuts could close hospitals '-if vw Cothran Cemetery, co Bill Freeman, 125 Lamb Road, Rockvale, TN 37153. Lawrence Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 203 South Horton Parkway, Chapel Hill, TN, 931-364-2233 www.lawrencefuneral.net -Tf -J '--n I David Allen Weigant David Allen Weigant, age 62 of Murfreesboro, died GANNETT TENNESSEE FILE PHOTO Metro General Hospital is seen in the above file photo. Gov. Phil Bredesen's newly proposed budget would cost state hospitals hundreds of millions of dollars and force some of them to shut down.

Mark Crawford Ralston Mr. Mark Crawford Ralston, age 50, of the Rover Community of Bedford County, died Saturday morning, February 6, 2010 at his home after an extended ill ness. Mr. Ralston was born in Rutherford County and was a graduate of Community High School Class of 1978. He was a member of Mt.

Pleasant Baptist Church in Rutherford County and was employed with the Rutherford County Co-Op of Eagleville, TN. Mr. Ralston was preceded in death by his brother, Phillip David Ralston and by grandparents, George and Maye Ralston, Jim and Ruth Carlton. Mr. Ralston is survived by his mother and father, Faye and Harold Ralston of Rover Community; brothers, Marvin (Sherre) Ralston, Melvin (Melanie) Ralston, Nathan (Marilyn) Ralston all of the Rover Community and Carl Ralston of Nashville, TN; several nieces and nephews.

Family members will receive friends on Monday, February 8, 2010 from 1 p.m. til service time 2 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church conducted by Rev. Bobby Maxwell officiating.

Burial will follow at Cothran Cemetery in Bedford County. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Phillip Ralston Memorial Scholarship Fund, co Melvin Ralston, 257 Fruit Valley Road, Rockvale, TN 37153; Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, P.O. Box 85, Rockvale, TN 37153; or da Mae Freeman Ida Mae Freeman, age 86, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on February 6, 2010 at Middle Tennessee Medical Center. She was a native of Cincinnati, OH.

She was a graduate of Western Hills High School in 1942 and attended the University of Cincinnati. Ida was a WAVE in the U.S. Navy. She enjoyed her life as an artist, wife and mother. She was a member of Westwood Methodist Church.

Ida was preceded in death by her parents, John Johnson Jr. and Achsah Mae Williams Johnson; brother, John Johnson III. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Herman Kuhn Freeman; sons, Pete (Deb) Wade of Cincinnati, OH and Matt (Lisa) Freeman of Cumming, GA; daughters, Robin (Tim) Miller of Acworth, GA and Holly (Mike) Jones of Hixson, TN; grandchildren; Kelby Jones, Tracy Miller, Sean Miller and Crystal Freeman. A private service with the family will be held at a later date. Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home, 820 South Church Street, Murfreesboro, TN, 615-893-2422 jenningsandayers.com Sunday, February 7, 2010.

He was a native of Evans-ville, IN and son of the late James and Hazel Robinson Weigant. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel with Brother Ron Harper officiating. Burial will follow in Coleman Cemetery. Family and Friends will serve as Pallbearers. Mr.

Weigant is survived by his wife, Betty Sloan Weigant; sons, Joey (Katha) Weigant of IN and Anthony (Andrea) Weigant of Murfreesboro; step daughter, Tammy (Chad) Hopkins; step son, Byron Warren both of Murfreesboro; brother, Roy (Jennifer) Weigant of IN; sister, Pauline (Jim) Fraley of Murfreesboro; four other siblings; grandchildren, Lauren, Jacob and Jordan Weigant. Mr. Weigant is preceded in death by brothers, John and Jim Weigant; sisters, Norma Smith and Janice Al-vin. Mr. Weigant was a retired Graphic Artist and a member of Minerva Drive Church of Christ.

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m., Tuesday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel, 615-893-5151 www.woodfinchapel.com Bredesen's budget plan would cut TennCare ASSOCIATED PRESS NASHVILLE Gov. Phil Bredesen's proposed cuts to the state's expanded Medicaid program would cost state hospitals hundreds of millions of dollars and may force some of them to shut down, health care officials say. The Democratic governor has said he needs to slash $201 million from TennCare to balance a $28.41 billion state budget. The TennCare reduction is part of $394 million in cuts to recurring spending plans. Tennessee Hospital Association president Craig Becker estimates the loss to hospitals statewide will be about $540 million.

"There'll be hospitals that will close over this," he said. "We'll lose some of our safety nets if these cuts are allowed to go through." One main change is a $10,000 annual cap on inpatient care for adults, which state officials say will save $51 million. But House Minority-Leader Gary Odom, a frequent critic of the administration on health care issues, agrees that "a number of hospitals will just not be able to survive." The Nashville Democrat has asked state officials to provide him with an analysis of how they arrived at the cap and the percentage of admissions that would be essee Hospital Association is considering several revenue options, including a so-called "enhanced coverage fee" that would help the state get federal dollars to mitigate the cuts. House Speaker Kent Williams said he. could see giving the hospitals enough reserve money to float them until they receive the federal funding.

"I think we need to concentrate on finding a long-term solution," said the Elizabethton Republican. In 2005, Bredesen cut 170,000 people from TennCare to save the state money. He has said the Tenncare changes will apply more to institutions than those enrolled in-th-pjfam-- Tennessee Health Care Campaign director Tony Garr disagrees. "When those kinds of cuts come down, the patient ultimately is hurt as well," said Garr, adding that the state should consider new forms of revenue in addition to dipping into reserves, like closing "corporate covered under it "We're talking about the health care infrastructure of our state," Odom said. "That's why I want the administration to give a detailed explanation of what they think is going to happen if this is put in place." TennCare spokeswoman Kelly Gunderson estimates about 5,600 enrollees may exceed the $10,000 cap annually, which she said represents less than 1 percent of TennCare's 1.2 million enrollees.

Gunderson said the cuts are among "difficult decisions in order to live within our means" and that other states are experiencing similar budget difficulties because of the poor economy. -on pse-reees sibn data, 17 states have inpatient hospital limits and will likely have to make changes to their Medicaid programs as well," she said. "This may increase the total number of states that have these types of limits and may in fact impose stricter limits for those with them already in place." Meanwhile, the Tenn laia IB mm wmmm iluum j. ul jii am i i mini ilium mm im mm HMiiniwnrni i iniiiiirnrwimiriniiiw mi milium ill mi We take pride in making our customers feel right at home, as only an independent, community-based bank can. We also have the resources to meet financial needs of all kinds, and the stability to stay profitable without TARP funds or government assistance.

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