For First Time in Two Years, TennCare Enrollees Given Option to Switch Health Plans

Tennessee will mail "ballots" to TennCare enrollees during the first week of April, allowing them to switch health plans "for the first time in more than two years." Currently eight private MCOs handle benefits and processing claims for TennCare enrollees, but state officials announced last month that, beginning July 1, the program will expand to include 10 health plans. In addition, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee will operate TennCare Select, a "special" statewide plan for children with disabilities and those in state custody. BlueCross will also continue to operate its regular TennCare plan, although the HMO will cut enrollment from 600,000 to no more than 300,000 members, the Nashville Tennessean reports. According to the Tennessean, BlueCross, Access MedPLUS, John Deere Health and PHP will serve east Tennessee, while Access MedPLUS, Xantus and a California-based health plan, Universal Care, will serve central Tennessee. Access MedPLUS, OmniCare, TLC and Better Health Plans, another MCO, will serve western Tennessee (Snyder, Nashville Tennessean, 3/16).