Healthy Access Database
Tennessee Contact Directory
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
801 Pine Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402-2555
Phone: 1-800-845-2738
Phone: 1-800-725-6849
Web Site: http://www.bcbst.com
Individuals who qualify for the federal Health Care Tax Credit (HCTC) can use their tax credit dollars to purchase the Personal Health Coverage health insurance product from this state-qualified health plan.
TennCare
729 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37247
Phone: 1-800-669-1851
Web Site: http://www.state.tn.us/tenncare/
Tennessee Association of Health Underwriters
Mrs. Karen Cornelius Tokarz
President, Tennessee AHU
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
3200 West End Avenue, Suite 102
Nashville, TN 37203
E-mail: Karen_Tokarz@BCBST.com
Web Site: http://www.tnahu.org
Tennessee Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program
Tennessee Department of Health
425 Fifth Avenue, North
Cordell Hull Building, 3rd Floor
Nashville, TN 37247
Phone: 1-877-969-6636
Web Site: http://www2.state.tn.us/health/BCC/index.htm
The Tennessee Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program provides clinical breast exams, mammograms, and Pap tests for eligible Tennessee women free of charge. General eligibility guidelines are women who meet income guidelines and either have no insurance, or insurance that does not pay for these services.
Participating statewide providers, including local health departments and primary care clinics, provide screening services and referrals if additional tests are needed. To date, more than 14,000 women have been enrolled for services. Over 4,000 women were screened in fiscal year 2004 --- a four-fold increase over past years.
Tennessee Children's Special Services
Tennessee Department of Health
425 Fifth Avenue, North
Cordell Hull Building, 5th Floor
Nashville, TN 37247
Phone: (615) 741-7353
Fax: (615) 741-1063
Web Site: http://www2.state.tn.us/health/MCH/css.htm
Children's Special Services (CSS) provides services to eligible children with special health care needs. CSS has three components: medical services, care coordination, and the Parents Encouraging Parents program.
The first component provides medical services and reimbursement for medical care (surgery, physicians/clinic visits), medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and therapies for children to age 21 years who meet medical and financial criteria.
The second component is care coordination. CSS coordinates primary and specialty care through the designated primary care physician and corresponding managed care organization network. Care coordinators assist the family in accessing many services (educational, medical, social, transportation, support, and advocacy).
The third component, Parents Encouraging Parents, links parents/families of children with special health care needs with other parents/families whose child may have the same or similar disorder. CSS employs a team of a parent of special needs child and a nurse or social worker to provide the support, linking and training for parents to assist them in the role of a support parent for other families.
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
Insurance Division
500 James Robertson Parkway
4th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-2218
Phone: 1-800-342-4029
E-mail: CIS.Complaints@state.tn.us
Web Site: http://www.state.tn.us/commerce/insurance/index.html
Tennessee Department of Health
425 Fifth Avenue, North
Cordell Hull Building, 3rd Floor
Nashville, TN 37247
Phone: 615-741-3111
E-mail: TN.health@state.tn.us
Web Site: http://www2.state.tn.us/health/
Tennessee Family Planning Program
Tennessee Department of Health
425 Fifth Avenue, North
Cordell Hull Building, 5th Floor
Nashville, TN 37247
Phone: (615) 741-7353
Fax: (615) 741-1063
Web Site: http://www2.state.tn.us/health/MCH/womenshealth.htm
The family planning program provides education and counseling, medical examinations, laboratory tests, and contraceptive supplies for any person of reproductive age. Services are available in all 95 counties at 129 clinic sites, which include all local health departments, planned parenthood clinics, some student health clinics, and primary care clinics.
Tennessee Genetics and Newborn Screening Program
Tennessee Department of Health
425 Fifth Avenue, North
Cordell Hull Building, 5th Floor
Nashville, TN 37247
Phone: (615) 741-7353
Fax: (615) 741-1063
Web Site: http://www2.state.tn.us/health/MCH/NBS/index.htm
Tennessee has a comprehensive genetics program that provides access to genetic screening, diagnostic testing, and counseling services for individuals and families who have, or are at risk for, genetic disorders. Two major aspects of the genetics program are newborn screening for genetic/metabolic disorders and newborn hearing screening for early detection of hearing loss. These comprehensive screening programs provide a public health service for the citizens of Tennessee.
Newborn screening allows for early diagnosis of metabolic disorders, followed by appropriate medical treatment. All babies born in Tennessee are screened for certain genetic conditions. If any of the tests are abnormal showing a possible disorder, the Department of Health follows up with the babys doctor to initiate retesting, confirmation and treatment from a specialist if necessary. Early diagnosis and treatment can make the difference between a child leading a relatively normal life or having more significant developmental delays, long-term health care needs, or even death.
Newborn hearing screening allows for early diagnosis of hearing loss and appropriate follow up services. Early detection gives parents the most effective opportunity to take action to help prevent the complications of inability to communicate, trouble reading, difficulty learning, and isolation.
Tennessee Healthy Start
Tennessee Department of Health
425 Fifth Avenue, North
Cordell Hull Building, 5th Floor
Nashville, TN 37247
Phone: (615) 741-7353
Fax: (615) 741-1063
Web Site: http://www2.state.tn.us/health/MCH/healthystart.htm
Healthy Start is an intensive home visiting program for first time parents. Its goals are health promotion and child abuse prevention. Eligible families may begin the program during the time period of the third trimester of pregnancy through the child turning four months of age. Families may remain in the program until the child is five years of age. The major components of Healthy Start are as follows:
Family Needs Assessment:
Screening of hospital records
Assessment interview
Referrals/follow-up
Home Visiting:
Intensive home-based family support and education
Creative outreach
24-hour availability
Parent support/lay counseling under professional supervision
Parent-child interaction curriculum and interventions
Linkage with a medical home
Referrals and advocacy
Parent groups
Participant levels (varied intensity of service, based on need)
Long-term follow-up to age 5
Child development screening
Child health tracking (well-care, immunizations)
Tennessee HIV Counseling and Testing Program
Tennessee Department of Health
425 Fifth Avenue, North
Cordell Hull Building, 4th Floor
Nashville, TN 37247
Phone: 1-800-525-2437
Phone: (615) 741-7500
Web Site: http://www2.state.tn.us/health/STD/counseling.htm
The Tennessee Department of Health provides HIV testing in each of its 95 health departments across the state (visit our local health department website for locations). You might have HIV and still feel perfectly healthy. The only way to know for sure if you are infected or not is to be tested. In all health departments, you will be able to talk with a knowledgeable health care provider or counselor both before and after you are tested.
HIV counseling and testing is confidential.
All HIV tests are free.
Tests results take two weeks to process.
Tennessee Immunization Program
Tennessee Department of Health
425 Fifth Avenue, North
Cordell Hull Building, 3rd Floor
Nashville, TN 37247
Phone: 615-741-3111
Web Site: http://www2.state.tn.us/health/Ceds/immunization.htm
Vaccines and immunization services are available through all county health departments in Tennessee and at over 1,500 physicians' offices in Tennessee. Doctors enrolled in the Vaccines for Children program can give free vaccines to children who are enrolled in TennCare, are without health insurance, or are American Indian or Alaskan Native. Children who are insured, but whose health insurance does not cover immunizations, can also get free vaccinations under VFC at federally qualified health centers, rural health centers, or local health departments.
Tennessee Perinatal Regionalization Program
Tennessee Department of Health
425 Fifth Avenue, North
Cordell Hull Building, 5th Floor
Nashville, TN 37247
Phone: (615) 741-7353
Fax: (615) 741-1063
Web Site: http://www2.state.tn.us/health/MCH/womenshealth.htm
The perinatal regionalization program was established to provide for the diagnosis and treatment of certain life-threatening conditions of pregnant women and newborn infants. The five regional perinatal centers across the state have made this specialized care available by providing a statewide mechanism to health care providers for consultation and referral of high risk patients; transport of these patients, if necessary; personnel skilled in high risk perinatal care; post-graduate education for physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel; and site visits to local hospitals.
Tennessee Prenatal Care Program
Tennessee Department of Health
425 Fifth Avenue, North
Cordell Hull Building, 5th Floor
Nashville, TN 37247
Phone: (615) 741-7353
Fax: (615) 741-1063
Web Site: http://www2.state.tn.us/health/MCH/womenshealth.htm
Basic prenatal care services are provided at all local health department clinics and include pregnancy testing, education, presumptive eligibility and TennCare enrollment, referral for WIC, and referral for obstetric medical management. Selected counties across the state provide full service obstetrical care for pregnant women.
Tennessee's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Phone: 1-877-801-0044
Web Site: http://www.state.tn.us/comaging/ship.html
The Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program is a statewide program that provides free and objective counseling and assistance to persons with questions or problems regarding Medicare and other related health insurances. In Tennessee, SHIP operates through the state's nine Area Agencies on Aging & Disability (AAADs). These agencies offer a variety of services besides SHIP, all aimed at helping persons who are elderly and/or have disabilities to live better lives.