NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A bill meant to ask the federal government to help fund Tennessee's healthcare system passed through its first milestone Wednesday.

HB 1280 would direct Governor Bill Lee to request a block grant from the federal government to supplement Tenncare.

The bill's sponsor, state representative Timothy Hill said this is not an expansion of medicaid, but instead a way for Tennessee to take control of its healthcare system.

"From my perspective, Tennessee has chosen, consistently, not to expand Obamacare in the traditional sense," said Hill. "So, you have an entire population which is roughly 9.3% that is without insurance. So, you have the choice either to do nothing or to try."

The bill passed through the TennCare Subcommittee Wednesday afternoon.

According to a spokesperson for the republican house caucus, he had not heard of any other states pursuing healthcare options like this one.

However, an opponent of the bill said he did not believe it was right to treat Tennessee's healthcare like an experiment.