Behavioral Health Safety Net (BHSN)

The Behavioral Health Safety Net (BHSN), operated through the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS), provides essential outpatient mental health services to uninsured adult Tennesseans and uninsured/underinsured Tennessee children who meet program eligibility criteria.  Essential services include assessment, evaluation, individual group and family therapy, diagnostic and therapeutic intervention, psychiatric medication management, labs related to medication management , peer support services, case management and pharmacy assistance and coordination and transportation for BHSN covered services. BHSN Providers serve eligible Tennesseans no matter which county they live in.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the BHSN program, applicants must meet the following technical and financial eligibility requirements:

BHSN for Adults

• Ineligible for VA benefits, Tenncare, or have filled out a TennCare application
• Do not have behavioral health benefits through the Veteran’s Administration; and
• Be a US Citizen, or qualified alien (defined as a non-United States citizen residing in Tennessee who is a Permanent Resident of the United States, or asylee, or refugee, or a non-United States citizen residing in Tennessee on a conditional visa as defined by state and federal laws); and
• Be a resident of Tennessee, 18 or older
• Be diagnosed with a qualifying primary mental health diagnosis
• Have a household income at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
• Not be in an in-patient facility, such as an inpatient psychiatric (sub-acute) hospital or nursing home
• Individuals who are inmates or incarcerated and meet all other BHSN eligibility requirements may be enrolled in BHSN to receive the following services: Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation, These services are allowable for individuals who are inmates or incarcerated if the services are provided within 90 days of release from incarceration and the services are provided to determine a qualifying mental health diagnosis.\
• Individuals who have Medicare Part B and meet all other eligibility requirement for BHSN program may be enrolled.

BHSN for Children

• Be determined ineligible for TennCare or have completed a TennCare application; and
• Be a US Citizen, or qualified alien (defined as a non-United States citizen residing in Tennessee who is a Permanent Resident of the United States, or asylee, or refugee, or a non-United States citizen residing in Tennessee on a conditional visa as defined by state and federal laws)
• Be a resident of Tennessee
• Be diagnosed with a qualifying primary mental health diagnosis
• Be three (3) to seventeen (17) years of age
• Not be in an in-patient facility, such as an inpatient psychiatric (sub-acute) hospital
• Not be in State legal custody.
• No income limit for children who meet eligibility criteria.
• Children with private/commercial insurance or CoverKids may be eligible for some BHSN services.

Pharmacy Assistance and Coordination

Pharmacy Assistance and Coordination provides BHSN enrollees with assistance in securing medications at a reduced price, or at no cost, through pharmaceutical manufacturer patient assistance programs, or Tennessee’s prescription drug program for Tennesseans with no pharmacy coverage called CoverRx. Pharmacy Assistance and Coordination also includes coordination with BHSN enrollees, prescribers, manufacturers, and Pharmacy Benefit Manager (currently OptumRX for CoverRx) for initial pharmacy assistance applications, emergency and periodic medication changes, and monitoring and submission of data necessary for monitoring and reporting.