Listen Tennessee’s Medicaid program is preparing to finalize the country’s first block grant application within days. The plan would reimagine the way the federal government funds health care for low-income Tennesseans, and according to TennCare officials, it envisions expansion of service rather than cuts.
How TennCare Hopes To Save Money Treating Mind And Body Of Vulnerable Patients
Listen In modern medicine, the mind and body typically stay on two separate tracks. But it’s hard to maintain physical health while suffering from mental conditions. So Medicaid programs, which insure low-income people, have tried to blend caring for the physical and mental needs of patients, with the hope that it might also save money.
Why A State Like Tennessee Would Even Want A Medicaid Block Grant
Listen Tennessee is angling to be the first state to switch its Medicaid program to a “block grant,” a lump sum to provide health care to those with low income. But it’s a tradeoff. The state would get wide latitude to run its Medicaid program as it sees fit, but it would also shoulder new […]
The Tri-Star State: How The GOP Got Behind Expanding Medicaid For One Small But Desperate Group
There’s a very real possibility that the Tennessee legislature will vote to expand Medicaid this year, though not to cover the working poor. Rather, this expansion is meant to rescue middle-class and upper-income families from financial ruin, as they care for children with severe disabilities.
It Just Got A Lot Easier To Enroll For TennCare Health Coverage
For the first time, Tennesseans have a way to directly apply for Medicaid online. Over the weekend, TennCare Connect went live, allowing residents to fill out forms and upload documents at a new website or with a smartphone app.
Why The Possibility Of TennCare Converting To A Block Grant Has Opponents Growing Worried
Listen A proposed change to how Tennessee’s Medicaid program is funded by the federal government has some health care advocates worried. The state could be one of the first to ask for a so-called “block grant” to pay for the health care of low-income residents.
TennCare’s Fraud Investigations Unit Could Nearly Double In Size
Listen Gov. Bill Lee wants to nearly double the size of TennCare’s fraud unit. He proposed the expansion during this week’s State of the State address as part of a way to cut health care costs.
Tennessee’s New Opioid Limits Result In Sizable State Budget Savings
Listen Tennessee’s new rules on prescribing opioids are resulting in substantial cash savings for the state. TennCare says it paid $15 million less last year because fewer painkiller prescriptions are being filled.
Finding A Doctor Who Will Take TennCare May Get A Little Easier
Listen The insurance companies who handle Medicaid in Tennessee have banded together to help patients with the most basic need: finding a doctor who will take their coverage. Medicaid patients often have difficulty locating a physician — in part since the government program pays less than most insurers but also because records are out of […]
Health Care Tops Tennessee Voters’ List Of Concerns, According To Vanderbilt Poll
Listen Tennesseans are growing more worried about the cost of health care, a new poll from Vanderbilt has found, in a development that could have implications for the state’s next leader.
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