Fact Sheets - Tennessee

SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS IN TENNESSEE

In school year 1999/2000 Tennessee had 12 school-based health centers, the same number as in school year 1997/98.
Most of the centers are open full time (58%). About a third of the centers (34%) serve middle school students, 25 percent are located in high schools, and another 33 percent are in elementary schools. The remainder of the school-based health centers are affiliated with alternative schools. Tennessee does not direct any state funding to centers. They are sustained largely through hospital sponsorship and local grants. Centers are eligible to participate in TENN Care, the state's Medicaid managed care program.
Descriptive Data


SBHCs with primary
care providers
Types of schools
housing SBHCs
Location of SBHCs

State Policies

Table I: Policies Regarding Third Party Payments for SBHC Services
SBHCs are eligible for services under fee-for-service Medicaid Yes
SBHCs are eligible for services under fee-for-service SCHIP ?
State policy specifically prohibits SBHCs from billing Medicaid No
State requires through law, managed care contracts or regulations that Medicaid managed care provider networks inlcude SBHCs ?
State encourages through law, mangaed care contracts or regulations that Medicaid managed care provider networks include SBHCs ?
State prohibits SBHCs from being paid for care provided to Medicaid managed care beneficiaries No
State requires through law, managed care contracts or regulations that SCHIP managed care provider networks inlcude SBHCs ?
State encourages through law, mangaed care contracts or regulations that SCHIP managed care provider networks include SBHCs ?



Table II: Programs and Policies that Support SBHCs
Is there a program unit which is responsible for providing technical assistance to communities interested in SBHCs? Yes
Does this office administer a grant program that supports SBHCs? No
Does the state have targeting guidelines for state-funded SBHCs? No
Has the state established operating standards for SBHCs? No
Are SBHCs licensed by state health licensing authority? No

 

Table III: SBHCs and Managed Care Experience
Do any SBHCs in the state have contracts with managed care plans? No
Do any SBHCs participate in commercial plans? No
Does state law permit nurse practitioners to participate in managed care provider networks as primary care providers? Yes

 

Table IV: SBHCs and Community Support
Has the state health department or education agency sponsored polls or organized focus groups to identify public intersts or concerns regarding SBHCs? No
Has the state agency been asked to provide inforamtion on how to start, operate, or fund a SBHC? No
Has the state agency been contacted by persons who were worried about the opening of SBHCs in their communities? No
Has the agency been contacted by persons opposed to the opening of SBHCs in the State? No
Do SBHCs assess parent and/or student satisfaction with their services? Yes

 

Sources of State Funding for School Year 1999/2000

$1,000,000 for coordinated school health through Department of Education.

Source: National Survey of School-Based Health Centers 2000,
Making the Grade

Contact Information:

Linda Schuster-Jackson
TN Department of Health
and Environment
525 5th Ave North
Cordell Hull Building 6th Floor
Nashville, TN 37247-4701
Phone: 615/741-5379
Fax: 615/532-8478
email: ljackson2@mail.state.tn.us

 Related Links:

Tennessee Department of Health
http://www.state.tn.us/health