HEALTH ACCESS AND
ADVOCACY
Tennessee Justice Center works to ensure Tennesseans can access and afford the healthcare they need. Through direct client assistance and policy advocacy, we help reduce medical debt, improve healthcare affordability, strengthen patient protections, address gaps in rural healthcare, and expand access to care across Tennessee.
HEALTH COVERAGE PROGRAMS WE HELP WITH
TENNCARE/COVERKIDS
Health insurance for children, pregnant individuals, parents and caretaker relatives, and other eligible Tennesseans.
CHOICES
Provides long-term services and supports for older adults and adults with physical disabilities who need assistance to live safely at home or in their communities.
ECF CHOICES
Provides home and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to support greater independence, employment, and community participation.
KATIE BECKETT
Health coverage and support for children with disabilities or complex medical needs who do not qualify for Medicaid due to income.
1915(C)
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers that provide services and supports so people can live in their homes and communities.
If you need help with your enrollment in any of these programs, TJC may be able to assist you.
Call us at 615-255-0331
HEALTHCARE ADVOCACY
Healthcare policies affect millions of Tennesseans every day. Real change happens when people raise their voices, share their experiences, and advocate for better policies. Join our statewide network of advocates working to improve healthcare across Tennessee.
1,353
statewide partners in our network doing anti-hunger work
8,513
people trained in anti-hunger work via webinars, in-person trainings, and YouTube videos in 2025
3,736
letters sent to legislators to bolster the nutrition safety net in 2025
OUR PARTNERS
PROPOSED ACTIONS
IMPLEMENT PASS-THROUGH
PRICING
Spread Pricing is when a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) charges a health plan more for a prescription than it reimburses the pharmacy, keeping the difference. Pass-Through Pricing provides transparency regarding the medication amount. The amount paid to the pharmacy is the exact amount billed to the health plan or client. PBMs would have no incentive to inflate drug pricing since their profit would come from admin fees.
AUTOMATICALLY ENROLL QUALIFIED PATIENTS IN CHARITY CARE
Charity Care is a financial assistance program provided by non-profit and government hospitals to offset bill amounts for folks below the Federal Poverty Level which helps mitigate medical debt. Too many Tennesseans leave the hospital with medical debt that will cripple them financially for years to come. Many of these Tennesseans are eligible for charity care. People who are eligible should be automatically enrolled.
PROTECT AND IMPROVE CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
Babies and children thrive only if they have access to quality prenatal and postnatal healthcare. Children are better, happier students when they have regular check-ups and screenings. Tennessee's children deserve to have continuous coverage that enables them to keep their learning on track.
ADDRESS GAPS IN RURAL HEALTHCARE
PROPOSED ACTION
MONITOR THE TENNESSEE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a 5-year federal grant with the expectation of addressing health disparities and outcomes that exist in rural communities across the country. Tennessee’s narrative expands existing work the state has already done for rural healthcare, committing to increase healthcare access through increased providers and their services, better transportation, and modernized facilities.