We are collecting stories from kids about brave moms across Tennessee and we need your help spreading the word! Do you know children whose mothers work hard, speak up, and keep asking until their children get the health care they need? We invite those children to nominate their mom as a “Mother of the Year!” Any mother, foster mother, or grandmother can be nominated!

The women named “Mother of the Year” will receive a framed certificate of recognition, have professional photos taken of them and their family, and will appear on our website and blog!

How to Nominate Your Health Care Hero

It is easy for kids to nominate their mom, foster mom, or grandmother as “Mother of the Year.” Here’s how!

• If they are age 3-9, they can submit a picture that shows why their nominee is their health care hero.
• If they are age 10-18, they can submit an essay (300 words or less) saying why their nominee is their special health care hero.

If a child cannot speak for themselves, we will take nominations from others who can tell their story in a way that includes them.

Submissions should also include a photo of the child and their nominee (we are sorry photos cannot be returned) with the nominee’s name, the child’s name, phone number, and address.

Submissions should be mailed to Tennessee Justice Center, 301 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37201. They can also email us their nominations and include a digital picture of them and their nominee!

Nominations must be received by March 30, 2012.

Please download and share our flyer about nominating “Mothers of the Year!”

We look forward to hearing about Tennessee’s health care heroes!

Today marked another chapter in a long running lawsuit on behalf of all 750,000 Tennessee children who are enrolled in the TennCare program. The lawsuit, known as the John B. case, was filed in 1998 against the state and its managed care contractors. The federal court ruled several times over the years that TennCare failed to meet federal health care quality and access standards that protect children. Today the federal court in Nashville ruled that the state is in “substantial compliance” with earlier orders and that the case can now be closed. The case now goes to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals for further review.

Michele Johnson of the Tennessee Justice Center, who leads the legal team representing the children, said the ruling will be appealed. “Doctors, parents and juvenile judges across the state tell us that TennCare still shortchanges children in important ways. There is no question that the case has produced major gains in care for Tennessee’s children. But we respectfully disagree that TennCare is where it can and should be.”

During a month long trial last fall, testimony highlighted TennCare’s high infant mortality rate, lack of mental health services and what doctors described as bureaucratic barriers to good care. “TennCare for children has improved from being badly broken to just mediocre. The state argues that is good enough. We believe Tennessee’s children deserve better, and that the law requires it,” Johnson said.

Under former Governor Phil Bredesen, the state took the controversial step of hiring four Washington, DC law firms eight years ago to represent TennCare in John B. and other TennCare lawsuits. The state’s own lawyers from the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office usually represent state officials, but the private firms took the lead in this case. According to incomplete state disclosures covering only half of the period it has been on the case, the lead firm, Cooper & Kirk, has received $17.9 million for its TennCare work, including John B.

Dr. Clifford Seyler, a Tullahoma pediatrician, said that, “I am glad that Governor Haslam is making it a priority to improve Tennessee’s poor ranking in how we meet our children’s needs. In line with those priorities, it is time for the state to listen to doctors and fix the problems with TennCare, instead of spending millions on Washington lawyers trying to deny those problems.”

For more information about John B., go here.

TennCare Standard Spend Down will open February 21, 2012 at 6:00 pm Central Time!

Standard Spend Down is a way to get TennCare. You have to call 1-866-358-3230 on February 21, beginning at 6:00 pm CST to ask for the Spend Down application. There are limited spots – only 2,500 calls will be taken. You do not need to call if you are already on TennCare.

Please feel free to download our Standard Spend Down flyer and share with others. We have one in Spanish/ Español too.

Who can get Standard Spend Down?

If you are disabled, aged 65 or older, or a parent or caretaker relative of a child under age 18 (and sometimes under age 19) and not able to get Families First, you may be eligible. If you are already on TennCare, you will not be eligible.

How do you apply?

1. What number do I call? 1-866-358-3230.

2. When will the call-in line be open? The call-in line will open on February 21, 2012 from 6 pm until 8:30 pm CST (7 pm to 9:30 pm EST).

3. Can I call now? No, you must wait until February 21, 2012 at 6 pm CST to call. If you call now, you’ll get a message that says you must wait and call back on February 21.

4. What will they ask me when I call in? Your name, date of birth, Social Security Number, mailing address, county, and phone number.

How Can You Get Standard Spend Down

How much can your  income be? The state will look at how much you make. You could be eligible just because you don’t make much money.

Income too high?  You still may be able to get TennCare if you have enough medical bills! You can also count the amount you pay for health insurance premiums for you and your family.

What kind of medical bills can you use?

1. You can use the part of a doctor or hospital bill you paid or that you owe.

2. You can use what you pay for your prescription drugs.

3. You can use up to $10 a month in over-the-counter drugs without a receipt. You can use this cost for each family member.

4. You can count travel to get medical care, such as trips to the doctor’s office and the drugstore. You get to count 0.42 cents per mile.

5. You can use your bills or your family’s bills. The bills need to be from the three months before you apply and in the month you apply.

Have an older bill? If you pay on it in the month you apply, the amount you pay counts.

There are many different kinds of medical expenses that can count for Spend Down.  Our Spend Down Medical Expenses worksheet lists most of them.

Also

Under 21? Pregnant? You might be able to get TennCare Medicaid through the Medically Needy Spend Down program.

For the Medically Needy Spend Down, you just  apply at the Department of Human Services (DHS).

For the Standard Spend Down, you must apply by calling 1-866-358-3230.

If you need help calculating medical expenses for Spend Down, feel free to use our Spend Down Medical Expenses worksheet.

Ten Thousand Villages artisans (who hail from across the globe) and TJC clients (who come from all 95 Tennessee counties) share at least one thing in common.  Many of them are low-income mothers struggling to support their families’ health and education.  Whether by selling their unique wares at a fair price or understanding and exercising their rights to obtain medical care, Ten Thousand Villages and TJC help make it possible for families and children in vulnerable circumstances to succeed.

For the second year in a row, Ten Thousand Villages has selected TJC as its Sunday Partner on February 19, 2012.  Come on out, bring your friends and family, and shop for a great cause on Sunday, February 19^th!

• Who: Open to the public
• What: Shop to benefit TJC
• When: Sunday, 2/19, 12-5 pm
• Where:  Ten Thousand Villages in Green Hills (3900 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 20, Nashville, TN)

Through its Nonprofit Sunday Partnership program, local nonprofits have opportunity to receive a portion of the sales proceeds from items sold in-store on the Sunday on which they are a partner.  TJC’s day is Sunday, February 19, 2012! The better business is at the store on 2/19/12, the more money TJC receives.  We automatically get 10% of sales, but if sales on that day exceed $2,500, we will get 15% of the proceeds!  This is not only an opportunity for TJC to bring in much-needed revenue, but an excellent way of promoting TJC’s work to a new audience. This is also an opportunity to support the good work of Ten Thousand Villages, which will in turn benefit fair trade artisans from developing countries.

The donation from Ten Thousand Villages will fund our direct client advocacy.  This takes many shapes.  It might mean hours on the phone helping a mother anxious to secure quality speech therapy for her autistic son, informing her of her appeal rights and assisting her in successful self-advocacy.  It might mean a TJC attorney writing to the state to explain that the law guarantees a teenager with intellectual disabilities (and others like her across the state) personal assistants to help her bathe, dress, and prepare for and attend school.  Each day, our staff of three attorneys, four client advocates, and one administrator listen to client stories, advise clients of their rights, and pursue legal remedies to resolve problems for the most vulnerable Tennesseans.  All of our services are provided at no cost; the Ten Thousand Villages donation – fueled by your purchases – will help pay for this vital work.

Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit, fair trade retailer selling handcrafted items from artisans in developing countries around the world.  Ten Thousand Villages creates opportunities for artisans to earn a fair wage. Artisans use this income to pay for food, education, healthcare, and housing for themselves and their families.

Do you know a child who is having trouble getting on TennCare? Do you know a child who is struggling to access needed care from TennCare? Tell them to call us at 615-255-0331 or toll free at 877-608-1009.

If you know a family or individual who is having trouble accessing needed health care, please contact us. We help children and adults who have questions about eligibility or getting TennCare to cover the health or mental health care services that they need.

We offer presentations about how to navigate TennCare! Email us if you’re interested in a TennCare training at your agency.

And more good news…

Are you looking for information about the new health care law? We can come give a presentation about it! Email us if your agency would like more information about this exciting new law.