When can I appeal for a child in foster care?

Know a child in State Custody? Or at risk of State Custody? Is the child not getting physical or mental health care they need?

Help that child get needed services by filing a TennCare appeal! An appeal is a way to fix TennCare problems.

Does the child:

• Need a doctor or dentist but no one will set a time for it?   Need an evaluation or assessment but no one will set a time for it?   
• Have trouble at school or with the law? Is it because they need counseling, therapy, or alcohol and drug treatment?   
• Miss doctor or therapy visits because no one took them there?   

File an appeal!

Does the child:

• Get therapy, but not the kind they need?   
• Have serious health problems and need someone to help them get the care they need?
• Have to go into state custody to get live-in residental treatment? Or are they only in state custody to get residential treatment?   
• Need a certain kind of residential treatment but has to wait?

File an appeal!

Are you trying to get physical or mental health care for a child in or at risk of State Custody?

Are you getting the run around from the Department of Children’s Services or TennCare? Or from people who give health care or mental health care? Have they all said it’s someone else’s job to get the care the child needs?

File an appeal!

Any of these people can do a TennCare appeal for a child in State Custody:

• Birth parent
• Foster parent
• Guardian ad litem
• Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA Volunteer)
• Youth Services Officer
• Case manager
• People who give health care or mental heath care
• Other advocates

Visit TennCare’s website to download an appeal form. You should fax it or send it certified mail.  Be sure to keep proof that you appealed.

For other options on ways to appeal (fax, phone, etc.), visit our page on TennCare appeals.