TennCare In-service
Training Scheduled

TennCare In-service Training Scheduled DMRS, working with Mental Health Services, will be providing in-service training related to the TennCare system.

These in-service sessions will cover: an overview to the managed care system, special challenges for Medicaid managed care, enrollment eligibility and the appeals process.

These sessions are scheduled June through August in East, Middle and West Tennessee and are open to anyone wanting to attend. For information as to locations and times and to reserve space at a session, contact your Regional Training Coordinator:

• East TN
  Alice Taylor
  787-6757, extension 112
  
  
• Middle TN
  Dot Williams
  231-5229

• West TN
  Lorraine Ford
  (901) 685-3901, extension 151
  

Around the State

• Dr. Karen Oldham, who has 10 years' experience in medical management and managed care, is the new medical director of TennCare. Oldham is board certified in managed care medicine and has extensive experience as an emergency room physician.
  
  
• The Donelson Christian academy was named 1999 Volunteer of the Year at Clover Bottom Developmental Center's annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon held in April.

DMRS Reports at Seventh Status Conference

The seventh quarterly status conference required by the conditionally approved settlement agreement was held on April 20, 1999. Counsel for all parties were present as were members of the Quality Review Panel.

Upon request of the Magistrate Judge, the parties stated their positions regarding the settlement agreement.

The United States and People First both agreed that the settlement agreement remains an appropriate and adequate agreement. The Parent Guardian Association expressed reservations about the settlement agreement but stated that they were not advocating full-scale litigation.

The Magistrate Judge announced that status conferences would continue to be held quarterly until the settlement agreement is fully implemented.

Future status conferences may be held at institutional or community facilities and shall focus on a designated topic of concern.

A discussion was held regarding the various issues raised by the parties in their Statements of Intent for consideration as topics of concern for future status conferences.

The next status conference will be held on Wednesday, June 23, 1999 beginning at 9:00 a.m. The topic of discussion shall be individual abuse and neglect.

Consumer's Satisfaction Questionnaire Results

As required by the Settlement Agreement, the Division of Mental Retardation Services conducted a consumer satisfaction survey in the fall of 1998. Results of this survey will help the Division identify strengths and weaknesses of the service system based on the evaluation of the individuals and their parents in the community and in the Developmental Centers. We would like to share some of the results of the survey.

Comparison of Consumer Satisfaction Surveys of 1997 and 1998.
Information shown is number of surveys sent, number of surveys returned and percentages sent and returned.

We are pleased that more people completed and returned their surveys in 1998 than in 1997. We will share more results in next month's newsletter.