A new bill aimed at enhancing healthcare access for Tennesseans with disabilities has gained traction in the Tennessee Senate Health and Welfare Committee. The legislation, championed by the Tennessee Disability Coalition, seeks to require TennCare to collect and publish specific data about its Medicaid provider network, focusing on services for individuals with disabilities.

Currently, TennCare adheres to federally mandated standards for reporting its provider network. However, this bill proposes the addition of three critical data points: service utilization rates, appointment wait times, and the duration between service approval and commencement. This information will be broken down by county, service type, and waiver program enrollment, allowing for a more detailed understanding of healthcare accessibility across the state.

The intent behind this initiative is to identify areas where care is hard to access and to pinpoint specific services that may be lacking. For instance, if data reveals a shortage of providers in Madison County for a particular service, TennCare can implement targeted solutions rather than making broad changes statewide.

This bill is not a response to federal Medicaid regulations but aims to empower Tennessee to address provider network issues with precision and efficiency. By developing this data, state officials hope to create more effective strategies for improving healthcare access for those who need it most.