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In 2022, Tennessee's uninsured rate was 9.3%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (Annap/Adobe Stock)

'Dual-eligible special needs' coverage may benefit TN seniors

Certain health plans offer benefits for eligible low-income seniors in Tennessee who have special medical needs but not everyone knows they are availa…

A report from the Tennessee HealthCare Campaign recommended the federal government needs to strengthen 340B drug pricing and other federal negotiation mechanisms to make needed medicines more readily available and less expensive for hospitals to purchase and administer. (Spotmatikphoto/AdobeStock)

Medicaid expansion could save TN rural hospitals from closing

A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …

The latest America's Health Rankings report showed some strengths in Tennessee, including a low prevalence of excessive drinking, and low rates of income inequality compared to other states. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Report: Tennessee ranks 44th for health outcomes

A new report highlights what Tennessee could focus on to improve the health of its residents. The latest America's Health Rankings report ranks …

Hispanic and multiracial high schoolers were most likely to report poor mental health, while Black and Hispanic students were most likely to report symptoms of depression, according to The Sycamore Institute report. (Highwaystarz/Adobe Stock)

Report uncovers trends in TN youth mental health crisis

More young people in Tennessee are experiencing poor mental health and symptoms of depression, and suicide attempts have been trending upward…

The last open enrollment period saw a record high number of Tennessee residents signing up for health insurance. More than 340,000 people enrolled in private health plans. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Open enrollment for health insurance begins Nov. 1

The open enrollment period to purchase health insurance through the federal marketplace begins Nov. 1, and experts urge consumers to do some research …

A 2020 study found the COVID-19 pandemic affected Gen Z and their views in key areas such as leadership and living with their parents as well as well-being, and how the pandemic has shaped their beliefs about the future of work, education and much more. (Jacob Lund/AdobeStock)

Groups Provide Vital Resources for Gen Z During Mental-Health Crisis

Mental health has emerged as a pressing concern for young individuals belonging to Generation Z, those born after 1996. A recent study shed light on …

Three in 10 transgender youths aged 13 to 17 live in states that have passed bans on gender-affirming care, according to the Human Relations Campaign. (Adragan/AdobeStock)

Tennessee Ban on Health Care for Transgender Youths Takes Effect

A new law banning gender-affirming health care for transgender youths is now in effect in the Tennessee. The law prohibits medical providers from …

The 2023 Kids Count Data Book reports the median pay for child care workers, who typically must hold a range of credentials, was $28,520 per year or $13.71 an hour in 2022. (Cherryandbees/Adobe Stock)

'Kids Count' Data Show Some Improvement for TN Children

The annual Kids Count Data Book by the Annie E Casey Foundation ranked Tennessee 36th among the states for children's well-being. The report found …

In 2022, Tennessee had close to one million K-12 students enrolled in nearly 1,906 schools in 148 school districts. (WavebreakMediaMicro/AdobeSTock)

TN School Districts Urged to Focus On Mental Health Support

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and an education advocacy group wants school districts in Tennessee and across the country to focus on critical m…

The law allows pharmacy providers to appeal their reimbursement from pharmacy benefit managers for drugs and devices, according to the Department of Commerce and Insurance. (Syda Productions/AdobeStock)

Poll: TN Voters Favor Policies that Hold P-B-M's Accountable

In Tennessee and across the country, prescription drug prices are skyrocketing, and a new national poll found most voters want lawmakers to regulate …

A report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families notes Medicaid covers about 83.5 million people, including more than 34.2 million children - a 31% increase since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Alena Ozerova/Adobe Stock)

TN Kids' Uninsured Rate Could Rise as Health Emergency Ends

A pandemic-era law to help keep children and families continuously covered with health insurance is set to expire this spring, and advocates are …

Un informe del Centro para la Infancia y la Familia de la Universidad de Georgetown se�ala que Medicaid cubre a unos 83.5 millones de personas, entre ellas m�s de 34.2 millones de ni�os, lo que supone un aumento del 31% desde antes de la pandemia de COVID-19. (Alena Ozerova/Adobe Stock)

Tasa de niños sin seguro de TN podría aumentar si finaliza la emergencia sanitaria

Una ley de la era de la pandemia para ayudar a mantener a los niños y las familias continuamente cubiertos con seguro de salud está a punto …

Over the life of the program, Tennessee has trained more than 2,000 Certified Peer Support Specialists, according to the Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

TN Peer Recovery Specialist Program Reaches Milestone

Tennessee now has over 1,000 people across the state who are actively using their past experience with mental-health and substance-use challenges to h…

About one in five adults in the United States has experienced some form of mental illness in a given year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. (Momius/Adobe Stock)

Suicide Prevention Month in TN: 'You Are Not Alone'

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to spotlight this issue in Tennessee and across the country. Almost 1,300 …

In September 2021, around 40% of Tennessee youths reported feeling down, depressed or hopeless nearly every day for the past two weeks, according to new state-level data released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

New Data Indicates TN’s Kids Struggling with Mental Health

An increasing number of Tennessee kids are experiencing chronic anxiety and depression, according to new data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation…

The nonprofit Save the Children says rural poverty in America is an emergency, noting almost 12 million children live in poverty, a burden disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic kids, as well as those living in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

In TN, Mental-Health Issues Increase Child Anxiety

Marking Mental Health Awareness Month, advocates contended more outreach and services are needed to help Tennessee mothers with postpartum depression…

In a ranking of states where foster-care instability was defined as three or more home placements, Tennessee had the highest rate at 31%, according to a new report by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. (Adobe Stock)

Foster Care Instability Continues to Impact Tennessee Kids

Last year, approximately one in three children in state custody remained in foster care for more than a year, according to a new report by the …

The World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend no screen time at all for children until 18 to 24 months, except for video chatting, and say kids ages 2 to 5 should get an hour or less of screen time per day.(Adobe Stock)

AGs Urge Zuckerberg to Halt Plans for Kids' Instagram

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee's attorney general is part of a group that wants Facebook to stop its plans to create a kids' version of Instagram…

TN adopta Enfoque a Través de Datos para Ayudar a Estudiantes a Terminar su “College”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Siguen las disparidades entre las líneas racial y socioeconómica cuando se trata de quién tiende más a …

Social isolation can worsen cognitive ability and lead to premature death in older adults. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Push for Rapid Testing in Long-Term Care Facilities

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Advocates are asking Gov. Bill Lee to supply Tennessee's long-term care facilities with rapid coronavirus testing, with the goal …

Front line workers are experiencing high levels of stress related to the COVID-19 crisis. (Adobe Stock)

New Emotional Support Line For TN Health-Care Workers on Front Lines

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee's health care workers and first responders who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response have a new …

Many employers have turned to telecommuting as a way to curb the spread of the new coronavirus. (Adobe Stock)

Protecting Mental Health in Era of New Coronavirus

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, so does anxiety. Health professionals say social distancing, frequent hand …

Tennessee's pre-arrest diversion clinics connected more than 7,000 people to mental-health treatment instead of jail between 2017 and 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Drop-Off Clinics Keeping People with Mental Illness, Substance Abuse Out of Jail

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee is increasing the number of drop-off clinics that allow police officers to take people with mental-health and/or …

The Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. Gov. Bill Lee's second State of the State address focused on education, teacher pay and job creation. (Adobe Stock)

Governor Praises TN's Medicaid System In State of State Address

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Gov. Bill Lee addressed the 111th Tennessee General Assembly yesterday evening in a State of the State speech that focused …

Symptoms of Alzheimer's often first appear after age 60, and the risk of developing the disease increases with age. (Adobe Stock)

TN’s New Dementia Advisory Council Wants Input from Residents

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Earlier this year, the Tennessee General Assembly unanimously passed legislation creating the first Alzheimer's Disease and …

More than 40,000 Tennesseans have completed online screenings for depression since 2015. (Adobe Stock)

More Tennesseans Screening Themselves for Depression

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – This is National Depression Screening Day, and mental health experts say that just as people might screen for diabetes…

More than 1,000 Tennesseans ended their lives in 2017, according to records from the Department of Health. (Adobe Stock)

Tennessee Boosts Suicide Prevention Efforts, Aims to Curb Stigma

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, and advocates say Tennessee has boosted efforts to improve access to …

Juvenile detention facilities around the country routinely put youths in solitary confinement, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. (Adobe Stock)

In Shelby County, a Push to Reduce Youth Solitary Confinement

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A juvenile detention center in Shelby County has reduced the use of solitary confinement among children in its care…

In 2017, more than 1,000 Tennesseans took their own lives, according to the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network. (Adobe Stock)

New App Aims to Increase Access to Suicide-Prevention Resources

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network has launched a smartphone app that helps connect users to local mental-health …

More than 80,000 children in Tennessee are no longer enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, and likely have lost health insurance, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Report Cites Big Drop in Number of Medicaid- or CHIP-Enrolled TN Children

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The number of children who are not enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program, is on the rise…

The Alzheimer's Association of Tennessee says Alzheimer's disease is the only official cause of death without dedicated research funds for a cure. (phiasinclair/Twenty20)

TN Lawmakers Consider an Alzheimer's Advisory Council

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - More than 120,000 Tennesseans are living with Alzheimer's disease, and this week, state lawmakers are considering bills to create …

Since 1965, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has tapped revenues from offshore oil and gas development to preserve public lands, including in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (National Parks Service)

Land and Water Conservation Fund Gets Congress' Bipartisan Support

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a rare display of bipartisanship, the U.S. Senate last week passed a measure by a vote of 92-8 to reauthorize the Land …

About 9 percent of all teens are the victim of physical violence from a dating partner each year, according to the CDC. (@lesya/Twenty20)

TN Groups: Healthy Teen Communication Could Help Stop Abuse

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — About 1-in-10 teens who have been on a date have also been physically abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last year …

Suicide is now the ninth leading cause of death in Tennessee, taking three lives per day, with a large spike among 10- to 17-year-olds. (JulieK/Twenty20)

Report Reveals More Suicides Among Tennessee Children

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – "One suicide death is too many," says Scott Ridgway, executive director of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network…

Resolutions: Aim for Progress, Not Perfection, in 2019

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The statistics are grim – only one or two out of every 10 people who make New Year's resolutions will achieve them…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests 150 minutes of moderate endurance activity every week. This can include walking, swimming or cycling. (@kirill4mula/Twenty20)

Regular Exercise Could Be Key to "Younger Brains"

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Researchers have found yet another reason to add exercise to your New Year's resolutions - particularly for seniors…

The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, at <a href=

www.tspn.org, has information about warning signs and links to local resources. (blake_bab/Twenty20)">

For Some, the Holidays are Anything but Jolly

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The holiday season is ramping up, and while most people look forward to festivities with friends and family, for others this …

A new report highlights the needs of the 5,745 young people, or 41 percent of Tennessee�s foster-care population, over age 14. (Tenn. Dept. of Children's Services)

TN Teens in Foster Care Need Permanency

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Experts say the instability of foster care often adds trauma to the lives of children in the system, with special challenges …

Experts believe increased online use may prompt suicidal thoughts among at-risk teens, as they compare their lives unfavorably to what others post. (Ryan Melaugh/flickr)

Social Media Use Linked to Teen Suicide

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – You may want to limit your teen's use of social media over the long holiday weekend. A study released this month in the …

Johnson City schools is transitioning its approach to alternative education for students having trouble in school - offering them a source of help instead of a dead-end. (Paradox 56/flickr)

TN City Takes Alternative Approach to Alternative School

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- For years, being sent to an alternative school meant a dead end for students in Tennessee and across the nation. But at least …

"13 Reasons Why" Netflix Show is Concerning, Say Psychologists

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Suicide rates in Tennessee are on the increase across all age groups, just as a new Netflix series features a story line …

Tennessee ranks fifth in the country in terms of money-related stress, according to research firm WalletHub. (aaayyymm eeelectrik/Flickr)

Stressed Out? TN in Top 10 Stressed States

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Feeling stressed out these days? You're not alone. A recent national survey ranks Tennessee the ninth most stressed state in the …

Rutherford County now is temporarily prevented from holding juveniles in solitary confinement until a lawsuit is resolved. (Hannah/flickr.com)

Court Halts Solitary Confinement of Juveniles in TN County

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Tennessee counties may be reconsidering their use of solitary confinement for juveniles after a federal judge issued a …

Experts fear repealing the Affordable Care Act could reduce access to mental health care for those who need and depend on it. (Ryan Melaugh/Flickr)

Tenn. Mental-Health Care Availability Could Be at Risk

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- While the fate of the Affordable Care Act hangs in limbo, one sector of the population is particularly vulnerable to changes in …

Tennessee friends and family members of opioid addicts now will have greater access to Naloxone, known to be able to reverse the fatal effects of an overdose. (Governor Tom Wolf/flickr.com)

TN Has New Tool to Fight Opioid Overdose

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- More than 1,200 Tennesseans died from opioid overdose in 2014 - the most recent year with data available. But the availability of …

The new plan from the 3-Star Health Task Force will help close the coverage gap in Tennessee, if the plan is passed by the State Assembly and signed by the governor. (health care/flickr.com)

New Plan Offers New Hope to Close Health-Coverage Gap in TN

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - There is new hope for the 280,000 Tennesseans currently in the coverage gap - making too much to qualify for Medicaid and too …

More than a half million people in Tennessee are living with Alzheimer's or caring for someone who is. (Smantha Ing/flickr.com)

Remember: June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - As many as half a million Tennesseans are living with Alzheimer's or caring for someone who is, but advocates say it's been at …

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Tennesseans are encouraged to seek professional help if they feel stress, sadness or other emotions they feel unable to cope with. (WanMohd/morguefile)

Better Frame of Mind: Experts Raise Awareness of Mental Health

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - May is Mental Health Awareness Month and experts are reminding Tennesseans about the importance of checking in on the …

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TN: Mental Health