B E H AV I O R A L H E A LT H
NEWS & EVENTS
Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations (TAMHO)
Volume 2, Issue 1
January 2014
Message from the Executive Director
As 2014 begins, we
embark on a year of
expanded health
coverage for millions of
Americans. This is
wonderful news for
many Americans.
Unfortunately, there are
thousands of
Ellyn Wilbur
Tennesseans who will
Executive Director
still not have insurance
TAMHO
coverage to meet their
needs due to the fact that Governor Haslam
and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid
Services have not come to any agreement on
a way to implement the Tennessee Plan that
Governor Haslam outlined in March of 2013.
Who are these individuals?
The first group is comprised of individuals
who are below 100% of Federal Poverty
Level (FPL), earning no more than
$11,490. While these individuals can sign up
for insurance in the Marketplace, they likely
will not be able to afford the insurance
premium because those under 100% FPL are
not eligible for premium tax credits or cost
sharing reductions through the
Marketplace. This is the group of people
who would benefit from Medicaid
expansion, but Tennessee has not opted to
expand Medicaid.
effective—like mental health case
management, psychosocial rehabilitation
and peer support-- are not routinely covered
in the Marketplace health plans. These
services help individuals remain stable in
their communities and are extremely cost
effective.
Currently the Department of Mental Health
and Substance Abuse Services has state
funds to pay for specific services to 35,000
individuals each year who have severe
mental illness and whose income is less than
100% of FPL. This fund, called the Behavioral
Health Safety Net, has been a lifesaver for
many, but it does not cover all those who
need the service.
TAMHO has strongly advocated for Medicaid
expansion and will continue to do so. We
believe Tennessee should join the 25 states
and the District of Columbia who have
expanded Medicaid.
The second group is comprised of individuals
who may be eligible for premium tax credits
or cost sharing reductions to help them
afford the premiums in the Marketplace.
Being eligible for coverage is exciting and
very useful, but for individuals with severe
mental illness or substance use disorders,
services that have been proven to be
It is now clear that the Marketplace plans
won’t cover all the services needed by
individuals with mental illness or substance
use disorders, so it is more important than
ever to educate our lawmakers about the
need to expand the Behavioral Health Safety
Net to assure that all individuals’ needs are
met.
Individuals who are poor and individuals with
mental illness or substance use disorders
should not be left out of coverage plans that
meet their needs!
Governor Haslam Attends the TAMHO Annual Conference
on Integrated Care
Inside this issue:
TAMHO BESTOWS ITS
HIGHEST HONORS
IMPORTANT DATES
AND EVENTS
Photo Credit: STATE OF TENNESSEE http://www.flickr.com/photos/governorbillhaslam/11208601646/in/photostream/
The 2013 TAMHO Annual
Conference at Embassy Suites
Hotel and Convention Center in
Murfreesboro was a great
success! Headlining the
conference was a visit by
Governor Bill Haslam, who also
received the TAMHO President’s
Award, along with national
experts speaking on various
aspects of integrated care.
Integration topics included:
Pediatric Primary Care/Behavioral
Health | Dipesh Navsaria, MPH,
MSLIS, MD, Assistant Professor of
Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin
School of Medicine and Public
Health, Primary Care Pediatrician,
Access Community Health Center
Co-Occurring Mental Health and
Substance Use Conditions and
Other Complex Needs | Kenneth
Minkoff, MD, Trainer and
Consultant on Clinical Services and
Systems Design for Individuals and
Families with Co-Occurring
Disorders and Other Complex
Needs
Primary Care / Behavioral Health: A
National Perspective | Kathleen
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GUEST AUTHOR AND
CONTRIBUTOR
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STATEWIDE
HAPPENINGS
7
NATIONAL
HAPPENINGS
9
TAMHO MEMBER
ORGANIZATION
HAPPENINGS
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