Middle TN Region 

 Nashville, Columbia, Clarksville and middle TN

Tenncare Transition, by Mary Keown, MD

We in Middle Tennessee are bracing and preparing for the change in MCO’s that will be implemented by the state on April 1. The end of TennCare Select for most patients brings 2 players as the source for insurance for most of our TennCare patients. (Children with special needs and those in foster care may retain TennCare Select.) Patients have been somewhat randomly assigned to AmeriGroup and AmeriChoice, and there will be opportunity until May 15 for the patients to request reassignment between the MCOs. The state has assured us that they intend the transition to be seamless, but we wait with some trepidation to see what will come with the new administrators. Both plans have FINALLY gotten contracts signed with Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.  This will also ensure
access to specialty physicians, which is a relief to all of us practicing front
line pediatrics. Additionally, there is agreement that there will be some
"grace period payments" if a patient assigned to one MCO presents to a
physician who has a contract with the other MCO. Please keep me aware of the
positives and negatives as we weather another TennCare storm.

 Mary Keown, M.D.