Healthcare

Publications

• Implementing ABLE: 2016 – A training from NDRN about the ABLE Act.
• COVID-19 Information & Resources – DRT’s curated COVID-19 information and resources for people with disabilities.
• DRT Client Story: Kevin – Kevin needed medical care while at daycare, but they were orriogionally hesitant to provide him the support he needed.
• DRT Client Story: Stephanie – Stephanie was a patient at a higher risk for breast cancer. However, on the day of her appointment, the staff at the imaging center informed her they would not lift her onto the table for the diagnostic procedure.
• DRT Client Story: Natasha – Natasha needed a sign language interpreter to communicate with her doctor. However, the staff told her that she would have to pay for an interpreter by herself.
• DRT Client Story: Sarah – When Sarah sought mental health treatment the facility would not allow her service animal Hugo to accompany her. However, without Hugo’s support, Sarah was not able to fully participate in her treatment at the facility.
• DRT Client Story: Hank – Hank is a veteran with a trained service dog. When Hank tried to make a medical appointment, the provider thought that he had to show his dog’s “papers” before accessing its facilities. Hank was concerned he wouldn’t be able to access his necessary medical appointments.
• DRT Client Story: James – James is a single dad who is deaf. When he went into cardiac arrest, the hospital did not provide him an interpreter. He was shut out and isolated, unsure of what would happen next.

Helpful Links

Services

• Healthcare Marketplace – Sign up for low cost private insurance or TennCare
• Family and Children’s Services Health Assist – Provides insurance eligibility counseling, prescription screening, and information and referral.
• Tennessee’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) – A statewide program that provides free and objective counseling and assistance to persons with questions or problems regarding Medicare and other related health insurances.
• Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities (AAAD) – Plan and provide programs and services for older Tennesseans, as well as those with disabilities. Screen for TennCare CHOICES eligibility.
• Tennessee Justice Center – Provides advocacy services for TennCare applicants and enrollees with a special focus on children and persons with developmental disabilities.
• Tennessee Department of Health Division of Health Care Facilities – When a problem is experienced with a specific licensed and/or certified facility, you may file a complaint with the Division’s Centralized Complaint Intake Unit.  They may be reached by phone at 1-877-287-0010.
• Tennessee Department of Health Division of Consumer Affairs – When a problem is experienced with a health practitioner, you have the right to report that practitioner to the Department of Health.  The Division of Consumer Affairs may be reached by phone at 1-800-342-8385.
• TennCare Connect – Self-service website where Tennesseeans can apply for TennCare.  TennCare members can also use TennCare Connect to renew and manage their coverage.

Information

• Katie Beckett Program – program for children under the age of 18 with disabilities or complex medical needs who are not Medicaid eligible because of their parent’s income or assets. This program has two parts, A and B, and will provide services and/or help pay for medical care that private insurance does not cover.
• Behavior Supports – A hub of resources developed by the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities to support the mental health and wellbeing of Tennesseans with developmental disabilities and their supporters.
• TennCare: Appeals – Information and forms from TennCare to carry out the TennCare medical appeal process.
• TennCare Service Appeal Guidance – Information from the TN Justice Center about the TennCare Appeal Process.
• TennCare CHOICES – CHOICES program and application information.
• TennCare Kids – The TennCare program for children.
• Kid Central TN – Information about health and education services in Tennessee.
• The Advocate’s Guide to the Medicaid Program – The National Health Law Programs guide to Medicaid.
• Tennessee Disability Pathfinder – A statewide clearinghouse of disability-related resources and multilingual helpline with information about health care services.
• HELP4TN (Legal Information for Tennesseans)  – Online legal information and self-help
• Pediatric-to-Adult Transition Toolkits – American College of Physicians’ (ACP) condition-specific toolkits to facilitate more effective transition and transfer of young adults into health care settings.