TN Included in the Center for Health Care Strategies’
“Profiles of State Innovation” Series

NASHVILLE –  In recognition of TennCare’s statewide implementation of the new TennCare CHOICES in Long-Term Care Program, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) has identified Tennessee as one of five innovative states with demonstrated expertise in managed care approaches to long-term care in their report: Profiles of State Innovation: Roadmap for Managing Long-Term Supports and Services.

Tennessee is the Second State to Receive Approval

NASHVILLE – TennCare officials announced today that Tennessee received federal approval to move forward with the Bureau’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) provider incentive program.  Tennessee is the second state in the country to receive approval of its implementation plan combined with a commitment for federal implementation funding. 

Phone Line Opens for First 2,500 Applicants October 4

NASHVILLE – The TennCare Standard Spend Down program is opening enrollment for the first time to new applicants beginning Monday, October 4, 2010.  Standard Spend Down is available through a waiver to the Medicaid program for a limited number of low income individuals, or those with high, unpaid medical bills who are aged, blind, disabled, or the caretaker relative of a Medicaid eligible child. Eligible individuals must have enough unpaid medical bills to meet the “spend down” threshold to qualify for and keep their coverage.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, will release Tennessee’s comprehensive, statewide nutrition and physical activity plan, Eat Well, Play More Tennessee on Thursday, September 16, 2010. This five-year plan, developed by the Tennessee Obesity Taskforce, provides a comprehensive roadmap to reduce obesity and chronic disease in Tennessee by 2015.

Contract Saves State in Administrative Costs

NASHVILLE — State officials announced today that Delta Dental was awarded the contract to serve as TennCare’s dental benefits manager (DBM).   The new contract will save the state an estimated $3.5 million in administrative costs over the three-year contract period.

 NASHVILLE – TennCare Director and Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration, Darin Gordon, was selected to participate as a Fellow in the 2011 class of the Medicaid Leadership Institute, a national initiative managed by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS). Gordon is one of six Medicaid directors chosen to be part of this initiative designed to enhance the leadership capacity of Medicaid directors to help their programs serve as national models for high-quality, cost-effective care.