The Behavioral Health Safety Net System in Tennessee, known as BHSN of TN, is a crucial resource for adults aged 18 and older who lack insurance coverage but meet the necessary eligibility criteria. This program offers essential community-based behavioral health services, with the exception of inpatient care, which is not covered. BHSN of TN is effectively administered through contracts with Community Mental Health Agencies statewide.

For individuals seeking to access this safety net assistance, the process involves locating a provider in their area and scheduling an intake appointment. During the appointment, applicants should express their intention to apply for the safety net program. If deemed eligible based on the eligibility requirements outlined below, the agency will provide support in completing the enrollment form. Approved participants must receive Behavioral Health Safety Net services exclusively at the Community Mental Health Agency where they initiated the application process.

The conversation with Jacy Warrell, the CEO of the Rural Health Association of Tennessee, provides valuable insights into the challenges and initiatives related to rural healthcare in Tennessee. It's clear that addressing the gaps in rural health is a top priority for her organization. Warrell emphasizes the importance of including rural communities in healthcare discussions and planning for the future of Tennessee. Rural areas make up a significant portion of the state and are home to a substantial underserved population. Inclusivity in these discussions ensures that the unique healthcare needs of rural Tennesseans are considered and addressed. She also sheds light on what Rural Health Association of Tennessee is doing to bridge those gaps.

The Rural Health Association of Tennessee has been actively involved in workforce development by awarding over a thousand certificates to high school and community college students. These certificates cover various healthcare careers, including Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy, EKG, Patient Care Tech, and Community Health Workers. This program plays a crucial role in preparing individuals for healthcare careers, especially in rural areas where access to education and training can be limited.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about empowering individuals, reducing the impact of breast cancer, and working towards a world where the disease no longer poses a significant threat to women's health. Awareness empowers individuals with knowledge about the disease, its risk factors, and the importance of early detection. By understanding breast cancer and its potential impact, people can make informed decisions about their health and take preventive measures.

We encourage women to schedule regular screenings, such as mammograms, and perform self-examinations, allowing early detection. When women are proactive in their health, the chances of successful treatment, if necessary, are highest. Early detection can significantly improve survival rates and reduce the physical and emotional burden on patients and their families.

Join RHA and Vizient for a partner webinar on "Advancing Facilities and Construction Spend Management" on October 20th at 11am CDT. 

Learn more about how he continued increase in the cost of building materials has added to the financial stress in an already burdened healthcare industry. As health systems continue to expand to meet patient needs, the need to rethink their capital strategies to ensure the delivery of projects that meet patient needs in the most operationally efficient and cost effective manner has never been more relevant. As leaders look to the future, there is a clear need to develop more integrated and comprehensive strategic solutions.

Be There 

Reducing Stigma and Encouraging Recovery

The Tennessee Rural Community Opioid Response Program (TN-RCORP) Consortium, a program of Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA), is announcing their new "Be There" initiative.

With the goal of reducing stigma and encouraging support, the campaign aims to bring awareness to the benefits of being there for those battling behavioral health issues including substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD).

Action for Healthy Kids has allocated nearly $30 million in subgrants to 264 school districts across 44 states and the District of Columbia, as part of a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative. This initiative aims to enhance student nutrition and meal quality in high-need schools. This program marks the largest targeted investment by the USDA for school meal programs in small and rural communities, promoting better nutrition for all students.

The funds, provided by the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, will benefit small and rural school districts, empowering them to modernize their operations and provide healthier meals. Each eligible school district can receive up to $150,000, which can be used for activities like staff training, kitchen upgrades, redesigning food service spaces, and bringing in educated nutrition/dietician staff.

National Recovery Month aims to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life.

To start off National Recovery Month, we're sharing a few resources and will add to these as the month progresses. 

Why attend?

HRSA Virtual Job Fairs are free online recruitment events that connect career-seeking health care professionals with representatives from health care facilities across the country.

Learn more about job opportunities, hear details about benefit packages, and find out how you can help underserved communities.

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) is proud to announce it has been awarded a sub-contract from Findhelp as part of TennCare's Health Starts Initiative.

Findhelp is a technology company that connects individuals needing social care services with community providers in an efficient and easy-to-navigate Closed-Loop Referral System (CLRS), while protecting privacy. They will provide the technology that allows TennCare to assess non-medical risk factors of individuals in need through a unified approach and refer them to community-based organizations that can meet their needs, while tracking outcomes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year, an estimated 1 in 6 people in the United States (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from eating contaminated food.

With food safety basics, everyone can keep their family safe from foodborne illnesses so it's important to understand food safety basics and how to practice them in the kitchen. 

Welcome Christin McWhorter, RHC Network Director

Christin will be working with the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Advisory Committee and Network Members by facilitating professional development opportunities, technical assistance, and advocacy opportunities for rural providers and administrators.

Christin has more than 17 years of experience working with and advocating for vulnerable communities. Prior to joining RHA, Christin served as the Community Outreach Manager for the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability where she oversaw the agency’s community service programs including the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

September 23, 2023
We are a proud sponsor of the 4th Annual Maury County Recovery Fest!

TennCare redetermination started in April. Our Health Enrollment team will be available to assist with TennCare redetermination, enrollment, and finding low-cost and affordable healthcare options at the Maury County Recovery Fest! Translation services are also available at no cost! Can’t attend the event? Call 866-675-7092 or click here to schedule an appointment with a trained assister.

In partnership with Ovation Healthcare we've curated a series of virtual webinars specifically aimed toward Hospitals. Webinar Series - Click Each One for Details and Registration:

Time to Remember. Time to Act. Overdose touches people and communities in many ways. On August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day, let's support the people in our communities who go unrecognized by raising awareness of the hidden impacts of overdose, promoting education of overdose response, and reaching out to politicians to make lasting, lifesaving policy changes.

The 2023 theme, “Recognizing those people who go unseen,” is about acknowledging people in our communities who are affected by overdose but might go unseen in the crisis. 

National Community Health Worker (CHW) Awareness Week is August 28 - September 1 and is the first ever national campaign with CHWs at the center!

The National Association of Community Health Workers has developed this event to increase awareness of CHW identity, roles, impact on communities, and leadership – and to promote policies that respect, protect and authentically partner with the CHW profession.

Conference Overview

Join us this fall as we welcome a variety of professionals in their field from across Tennessee to present on topics effecting rural Tennessee. Find the agenda for this event here. 

Registration

Registration for RHA of TN's 29th Annual Conference is now open! 

National Breastfeeding Month is celebrated annually in August and is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance and benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and parents. The observance also aims to raise awareness of racial disparities in breastfeeding numbers and work towards reducing them by providing culturally sensitive support, education, and resources to communities facing more significant breastfeeding challenges. 

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure a child's health and survival. Although more than 80 percent of mothers in the U.S. start off breastfeeding, less than a quarter exclusively breastfeed their baby at 6 months. According to the CDC, fewer non-Hispanic Black infants (74.1 percent) are ever breastfed compared with Asian infants (90.8 percent), non-Hispanic white infants (85.3 percent), and Hispanic infants (83.0 percent).

In order to achieve health equity, access barriers need to be removed and high quality, need-based resources allocated. Health equity promotion is the aspirational guarantee of optimal health for all.

In this article, five actionable strategies for promoting health equity are summarized by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Often, meaningful equity work requires major shifts in approaches, dedicated resources, and targeted efforts toward social justice.

This week we recognize our community health centers in honor of National Community Health Centers Week, August 6th-12th. Community Health Centers (CHCs) dismantle obstacles to healthcare by catering to every patient, regardless of their insurance situation or financial capacity. They furnish care that is culturally and linguistically suitable, and extend enabling services to tackle non-medical necessities.

CHCs represent consumer-oriented and patient-centric institutions that fulfill the role of a comprehensive and economically viable primary healthcare solution for the most marginalized communities. These centers enhance healthcare accessibility and deliver integrated services tailored to the distinct needs of the populations they support.