The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) will provide mental and substance use disorder treatment and other related recovery supports for individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through TN CBHCR: COVID-19 Behavioral Health Care Response. TN CBHCR will expand behavioral healthcare treatment to Tennessee residents by increasing services, including telehealth services, statewide. TN CBHCR activities will include, as appropriate: (1) screening/assessment; (2) evidence-based, population-appropriate treatment services; and (3) recovery support services, provided to a focus population of Tennessee residents with severe mental illness (SMI), mental disorders less severe than SMI, substance use disorders (SUD), and/or co-occurring SMI and SUD (COD).
The COVID-19 pandemic has reached 87 of Tennessee's 95 counties, leading to 4,182 cases as of April 9. TDMHSAS anticipates an increase in need for behavioral healthcare services in the aftermath of the pandemic among the populations of focus within the state, including an estimated 252,000 Tennesseans with SMI; 685,000 with mental disorders; 377,000 with SUD; and 70,560 with COD. Additionally, Tennessee expects an increased need for TDMHSAS services among residents not eligible for the state's Medicaid program, driven by increased unemployment following the pandemic's impact, as indicated by a 30-fold increase in unemployment claims in late March over the previous average. TN CBHCR will also serve healthcare professionals affected by their role in responding to the pandemic.
TN CBHCR will provide direct services at agencies statewide. TN CBHCR will strengthen service capacity at agencies with telehealth capabilities (i.e., video- and/or telephone-enabled) to (1) address treatment service needs in areas where the COVID-19 impact is concentrated, (2) enable access to Tennessee residents for whom distance is a barrier, and (3) increase options that allow providers and individuals receiving care to practice safe social distancing practices.
TDMHSAS estimates that TN CBHCR will serve 1,523 focus population individuals affected by COVID-19 during project implementation. The project will provide substance abuse and recovery support services to 543 individuals with SUD; and mental health services to 980 individuals with SMI and/or healthcare professionals with mental disorders less severe than SMI. TN CBHCR will provide screenings and assessments, which will guide the provision of direct evidence-based mental health and/or substance abuse treatment services to eligible individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. TN CBHCR will provide recovery services as appropriate and evaluate project progress during and after implementation. All TN CBHCR services will be guided by evidence-based practices and informed by CDC and SAMHSAs recommendations for behavioral health service provision specific to individuals affected by COVID-19 and its response.