Behavioral Health News & Events
Tennessee Department of
Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Services
Volume 2, Issue 1 | January 2014
PLANNING & POLICY
COUNCIL
Statewide Happenings
Budget Concerns for FY2015
Tennessee Department of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Services
The Department of Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Services FY15 budget includes the reduction
of $4.5 million funding for the 45 Peer Support
Centers across the state of TN. Peer Support
Centers are places where adults diagnosed with a
severe mental illness develop their own recovery
programs to supplement their existing mental
health services. They are open between 24-40
hours per week to empower and support people
with mental illness to take charge of their own lives
and approach their future with hope. For over two
decades, Peer Support Centers have played a
successful part of Tennessee's mental health
system. Today the Peer Support Centers are used
by 3,500 Tennesseans monthly.
TAMHO supports the restoration of funding
for the Peer Support Centers in Tennessee!
Health Care Finance and Administration
(TennCare)
The TennCare FY15 budget includes a 2.5% rate
reduction for all providers. Providers have not
received a rate increase in years and won’t be able
to maintain the desired access and quality of care if
a rate reduction is implemented.
TAMHO opposes the TennCare
provider rate reduction!
Important TennCare Changes
Effective January 1, 2014
TennCare Applications – DHS will no longer accept
TennCare applications. To apply for TennCare, you
must go through the federal Marketplace at
www.healthcare.gov to begin the application
process. The Marketplace will screen to see if you
may be eligible for TennCare and if so, your
information will be automatica