Services at county heath departments soon to expand
Eight counties already offer primary care services, which include treatment for acute and chronic illnesses, basic lab services and a limited pharmacy. Thirty-one more health departments are expected to add or expand their primary care services by Jan. 3, and six more are expected to have services in place by July.
“Now that we have regained control of TennCare, we can turn our attention to the very real problem of the uninsured in Tennessee,” Gov. Phil Bredesen said in a news release.
Services are available to all Tennesseans, whether or not they were previously on TennCare.
Patients will be charged on a sliding fee scale based on their income. Everyone will be required to pay a minimum of $5 for each visit.
“A strong public health system and safety net is paramount to the health and well-being of a state’s citizens,” said Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson, Department of Health commissioner.
The state also has some 20 federally qualified health centers that provide primary care.
Services at heath departments soon to expand
Health departments in nine counties already offer primary care services, which include treatment for acute and chronic illnesses, basic lab services and a limited pharmacy. Thirty more health departments are expected to add or expand their primary care services by Jan. 3 as part of the state’s “safety net” program for uninsured Tennesseans. Six more are expected to have services in place by July:
— Counties already offering expanded services: Anderson, Carter, Chetham, Greene, Hawkins, Montgomery, Putnam, Roane, Washington.
— Counties offering expanded services by Jan. 3: Bedford, Bradley, Carroll, Cumberland, DeKalb, Dickson, Dyer, Fentress, Gibson, Grundy, Hamblen, Henderson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Macon, McNairy, Meigs, Monroe, Overton, Robertson, Rutherford, Sequatchie, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Sevier, Tipton, Warren, Weakley, Williamson, Wilson.
— Counties offering expanded services by July 2006: Blount, Crockett, Fayette, Henry, Humphreys, Obion.