Tennessee Long-Term Care Program begins July 1

Employment and Community First Program offers options to institutions

June 30
Starting this Friday, individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities not currently receiving Medicaid waiver services can apply for the new Employment and Community First program.

The new Employment and Community First program is an effort to serve more people and expand options in long-term services and supports with TennCare.

The ECF program opens for applications this Friday, July 1, 2016. Referrals for enrollment cannot be accepted before Friday. However, starting Friday, you can fill out a "self-referral online form" on the TennCare homepage to apply for the program. The form will be posted and available at:

https://tcreq.tn.gov/tmtrack/ecf/index.htm

You may apply by completing the self-referral form at the link above; but if you need help or have questions you can call the agencies listed below. Applicants who have Medicaid but are not sure who the MCO is may call the Tennessee Health Connection line 1-855-259-0701.

Applicants who already have Medicaid and are enrolled with Amerigroup or BlueCare should contact their Managed Care Organization with questions or if you need assistance completing the self-referral form. You can find the information about how to call your MCO on your insurance card.

Applicants who already have Medicaid and are enrolled with United HealthCare Community Plan should contact Dept. of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Regional Intake Offices with questions or if you need assistance completing the self-referral form.

Applicants who do not have Medicaid should contact Dept. of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Regional Intake Offices with questions or for assistance completing the self-referral form for both ECF CHOICES and applying for Medicaid. The DIDD contact information is below:

DIDD Regional Intake Office Contact information:

West Tennessee Regional Office Office of Intake (866) 372-5709
Middle Tennessee Regional Office Office of Intake (800) 654-4839
East Tennessee Regional Office Office of Intake (888) 531-9876 

If you are currently on the waiting list for home- and community-based services (HCBS) through the Medicaid waiver you should receive a letter about the new program the first week it begins. The letter should tell you to use the self-referral form on the TennCare website, starting July 1. Based on the information DIDD currently has about you they may automatically refer you to the ECF CHOICES program in an active or deferred category.