TN.gov Newsroom

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations (TAMHO) recently presented TennCare staff with the President’s Award, which is given at the discretion of the TAMHO President, during the TAMHO 2009 Annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony in Nashville, Tenn.

NASHVILLE — The Bureau of TennCare announced today that BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) will take over behavioral health care for enrollees receiving services through TennCare Select. This transition to using a single managed care entity to provide all of the care an enrollee needs, including physical and behavioral health coverage, marks TennCare’s completion of the shift to a fully-integrated service delivery model.

KNOXVILLE – The Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville today released the findings from its study, “The Impact of TennCare: A Survey of Recipients 2009.” The results show TennCare continues to earn high marks from those who receive its services – with enrollees reporting quality ratings that are the highest since the program’s inception in 1994.

NASHVILLE - TennCare announced today federal officials have approved changes to Tennessee’s long-term care program, which brings the state one step closer to total implementation of the Long Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved an amendment to the TennCare waiver that will allow managed care organizations to coordinate all of the care a TennCare member needs, which will now include medical, behavioral and long-term care.  

State Will Be Able to Mitigate Budget Cuts

NASHVILLE – The State of Tennessee today received relief from U.S. District Court, resolving a long-standing court order that will help minimize planned budget cuts in TennCare’s effort to meet its budget reductions for next year.  The court granted the state permission to check the eligibility of 150,000 TennCare members, some of whom may no longer be eligible for the program.  They are all members of a class of enrollees subject to a 21-year old court order known as Daniels. 

NASHVILLE - Facing mounting revenue shortfalls, the State of Tennessee today provided updated information to the U.S. District Court in Nashville concerning potential budget cuts that TennCare faces as a result of the deepening economic recession. The state is seeking relief from a long-running lawsuit known as Daniels that, if granted, could minimize the planned cuts that are needed to help balance the state’s budget.

NASHVILLE – TennCare announced today the approval of a planned expansion of home and community services. The federal government recently approved an expansion that will allow TennCare to serve 2.300 more people in its Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program for the elderly and adults with physical disabilities. With the expansion, TennCare will provide these services to 6,000 individuals this year. The funds for the expansion were approved by the General Assembly in the state budget that passed in May.

NASHVILLE – Through a competitive bid process, SXC Health Solutions Corp. has been awarded the Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) contract with the Bureau of TennCare. The three-year, $35 million contract begins October 1, 2008. Two other PBM organizations, First Health and ACS, also submitted bids.

“In recent years, efficient management of our pharmacy benefit has resulted in savings of more than $1 billion of taxpayer funds,” said TennCare Director Darin Gordon. “We look forward to building on such successes, as we work with SXC.”