TennCare to kickoff public service campaign

The campaign includes radio and TV public service announcements that will air for two-and-a-half weeks starting next week, as well as a 10-minute video that will run on cable-access TV channels.

Informational brochures also will be distributed in healthcare outlets around the state.

The message the bureau wants to convey is that it’s important to fill out the brown forms mailed to TennCare enrollees and return them to the Department of Human Services, which is handling the disenrollment.

Information from the forms will be used to determine whether an enrollee might be eligible to stay on TennCare, which is being overhauled to control escalating costs.

“We’re making every effort to reach out to enrollees and encourage them to submit any information that could help them keep their coverage,” said J.D. Hickey, director of the TennCare Bureau. “Filling out the brown forms and returning them to DHS is vital.”

Officials recently mailed the notices that say “TennCare Papers Inside. Open and act now!” to about 200,000 enrollees who may lose coverage.

They will have 30 days to complete and return the forms. If they fail to do so, they will get a notice of termination advising them that their coverage will end after 20 days.

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Information from: Johnson City Press, http://www.johnsoncitypress.com