HEALTH OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR FORMER TENNCARE ENROLLEES

NASHVILLE, TENN. - State officials are reminding people who are coming off TennCare that they have a resource available to help them find health care services.

The toll-free Health Options hotline, 1-888-486-9355, is a clearinghouse for information on programs and services such as prescription assistance programs, other insurance options and local medical services. The hotline also can connect TennCare disenrollees to the Ask-A-Nurse service if they want to discuss a health or medical condition with a registered nurse. The hotline provides a list of healthcare resources in each county, including local health departments and nonprofit clinics that may provide free or low-cost services based on ability to pay. A corresponding Web address is also available: www.tnhealthoptions.org.

"We've been assisting people in accessing the resources available that can help provide them with medical information, particularly prescription assistance," Finance and Administration Commissioner Dave Goetz said. "Thousands of people are already taking advantage of options available as we make changes to the TennCare program."

In addition, the State has partnered with community mental health agencies from across Tennessee to continue key mental health services for patients with severe mental illnesses who are coming off TennCare. Information on accessing these services is also available on the Health Options Hotline.

Three types of prescription assistance are offered on the Health Options Hotline for those persons losing TennCare:

• Express Access Discount Card - Provides savings up to 10% on brand-name prescription medicines and up to 50% on generic medicines purchased at participating pharmacies.
• Rx Outreach - Provides free generic medicines from a list of over 55 FDA-approved drugs to help treat problems like diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and depression. The State will cover the cost of the program through December 31 (or June 30, 2006, for those identified by TennCare as mentally ill). After that, participants will be required to pay a fee of $6 per month per prescription if they choose to continue participating in the program.
• Additional Prescription Assistance - Provides help getting access to other assistance programs, including those offered by brand-name drug manufacturers.

The State also is providing direct funding to help mentally ill TennCare disenrollees buy prescriptions at their local pharmacies until they sign up and receive their medications through the patient assistance programs. The State is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services to secure an additional $8 million in federal funds to help Medicare-eligible individuals until the Medicare drug plan takes effect in January.

For information on these or other programs, call the Health Options Hotline at 1-888-486-9355.