[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9455]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        TRIBUTE TO DARIN GORDON

 Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I request that a copy of my 
letter to Darin Gordon, TennCare director and deputy commissioner of 
the Tennessee Health Care Finance Administration, be printed in the 
Record.
  The material follows:


                        TRIBUTE TO DARIN GORDON

       I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for your 
     service as director of TennCare over the past 10 years.
       As the state's longest-serving TennCare director and the 
     longest-serving Medicaid director in the country, you have 
     helped transition our state's Medicaid program from being one 
     of Tennessee's biggest budget headaches to being consistently 
     ranked as one of the nation's most fiscally responsible.
       As Governor of Tennessee, I saw firsthand the impact that 
     runaway health care costs can have on other important state 
     programs--like higher education and roads and bridges. For 
     the past ten years, you have worked tirelessly to restrain 
     unnecessary state spending on TennCare and have developed 
     innovative solutions to increase patient access and 
     satisfaction. Your leadership has proven that you understand 
     how critical it is for the state to get health care costs 
     under control, and I'm also impressed with what you've been 
     able to accomplish under both a Democratic and Republican 
     governor.
       Medicaid spending is on track to double over the next ten 
     years. Congress needs advice on growing entitlement programs 
     from experienced leaders like you because you understand the 
     challenges states are facing and how the federal role has 
     contributed to the increases in state spending related to 
     Medicaid.
       You have led TennCare through challenging times and have 
     been instrumental in helping the state modernize its Medicaid 
     delivery system. I thank you for your service to Tennesseans 
     and your willingness to work with me and my staff to help 
     advance good Medicaid policies and avoid Washington mandates.
       I wish you the best as you continue your professional 
     career.
       Very best wishes.

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