The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have approved a radical amendment to Tennessee’s Medicaid Waiver, TennCare III, aimed at enhancing healthcare access and support for TennCare members. This amendment is part of Governor Lee’s ‘Strong Families Initiative,’ which was approved by the General Assembly last year to strengthen support for Tennessee’s families.

With this approval, starting June 1, more parents and caregivers will qualify for TennCare. Additionally, effective this August, TennCare will become the first Medicaid agency in the nation to cover the cost of diapers, providing up to 100 diapers per month for TennCare and CoverKids members under two. These new initiatives are expected to ease financial burdens for families and ensure the well-being of TennCare’s youngest members.

Kara Cocks, President of Tennessee Valley Diaper Bank, praised the program for the relief it will bring to parents across the state. “A lot of people reaching out to us are grandparents raising their grandchildren. They have temporary custody and need a supplement,” said Cocks. She also noted that there are other options available for those who do not qualify for the program.

The necessity for such a program is underscored by several important facts:

• Local childcare facilities require parents to supply an adequate amount of diapers for their infants and toddlers. Without them, children cannot stay, preventing parents from going to work.
• One out of two families struggles to provide diapers for their child.
• Federal programs like SNAP and WIC do not cover diapers, as they are categorized as non-food items.
• An infant typically uses 8-10 diapers per day, totaling 240-300 diapers per month, which can cost $96-$100 or more.

To address this need, the Tennessee Valley Diaper Bank, along with annual sponsors, local clubs, churches, and other organizations, is actively involved in creating diaper awareness through donations, drives, and fundraisers. Community volunteers play a crucial role by collecting, sorting, wrapping, labeling, and distributing the diapers to local partnering agencies that serve families in Bradley and Cleveland.

The process involves several steps:

• Donors and the community provide and donate diapers, and the Tennessee Valley Diaper Bank purchases additional diapers.
• Volunteers re-wrap the diapers for distribution.
• The Tennessee Valley Diaper Bank supplies the re-wrapped diapers to partnering agencies.
• These agencies then distribute the diapers to families in need.

The combined efforts of the Tennessee Valley Diaper Bank and its volunteers help ensure that the future leaders of tomorrow receive the support they need today.