# TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Coverage of Mental Illness, Community Mental Health Centers, Clinical Staff, T.C.A. 56-7-1003 > Tennessee · Agency guidance · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88B ## Section - **Citation:** TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01) - **Heading:** TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Coverage of Mental Illness, Community Mental Health Centers, Clinical Staff, T.C.A. 56-7-1003 - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Agency guidance - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Bulletins / TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Coverage of Mental Illness, Community Mental Health Centers, Clinical Staff, T.C.A. 56-7-1003 ## Text NED McWHERTER GOVERNOR TO: STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INSURANCE 500 JAMES ROBERTSON PARKWAY NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37219 B U L L E T I N All Heal th Insurers FR: Elai ne A. McReynolds, Commissioner ~~~ Depa rtme nt of Commerce and Insuranc~'1 RE: Cove rage of Mental Illness, Community Menta l Heal th Centers, Clinical Staff, T.C.A. 56-7 -1003 DA: Sept embe r 1, 1988 ELAINE A. McREYNOLDS COMMISSIONER A re cent inquiry has lead the Department t o believe that there may b e some confusion as to the re quirements for coverage of community mental health center treatment and coverage of clinical staff working at community mental h ealth centers. Subs ecti on (a) of T.C.A. Section 56-7-1003 provides that policies iss ued in Tennessee must provide cove rage of mental illness u nle ss the policy specifically exclud es or re duces such benefit s. Subsection (e) provides that all pol icies which do provide benefits for mental i llness s hall reimburse for such be nefits when such benefits are provided at a community me ntal health center, whether wit h respect to outpatien t or inpatient benefits. Subs ecti on (b)(1)(2) provide that any pol icy must cover treatment at a community mental health cent er unless the policyholder specifically rejects in writing suc h coverage . Subse cti on (b)(3) provides that when benefits are provided for treatment at a community mental health center, such bene fits shall include coverage of ''clinica l staff" which is define d as an individual who holds at lea st a mast er's degree in ei ther psychology, nursing, or socia l work and any required lice nsed. In s hor t, the policy may exclude or reduc e benefits for coverage of mental health but must provide fu ll coverag e in the absenc e of an exclusion nity mental health center, such bene fits shall include coverage of ''clinica l staff" which is define d as an individual who holds at lea st a mast er's degree in ei ther psychology, nursing, or socia l work and any required lice nsed. In s hor t, the policy may exclude or reduc e benefits for coverage of mental health but must provide fu ll coverag e in the absenc e of an exclusion. Any policy provid ing covera ge of mental il lne ss must cover treatment at a co mmunity mental health ce nter in the absence of a written rejec tion signe d by the appl ican t. Any policy so covering tr eatment a t a community me ntal health center must "cover cli nical staf f at the commun ity mental health center. ## Nearby sections - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1983-10-27) TN Insurance Bulletin (1983-10-27): Agent Fees and Commissions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19831027_10_27_83.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1985-08-08) TN Insurance Bulletin (1985-08-08): Insurance Activities of Unlicensed Agency Personnel](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19850808_8_5_85.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-05-06) TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-05-06): Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880506_5_6_88.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01) TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Coverage of Mental Illness, Community Mental Health Centers, Clinical Staff, T.C.A. 56-7-1003](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88B.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01) TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Newborn Coverage T.C.A. 56-7-1003](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88A.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01) TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Changes of Address](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88C.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01) TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Fictitious Groupings - Mailings to Bank Customers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88E.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01) TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Financial Statements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88F.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01) TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Punitive Damages](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88J.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01) TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01) TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): HMO'S - Filing of Rates](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88G.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01) TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Indemnified Employee Welfare Benefit Plans](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88H.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01) TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Chiropractic Exclusions or Limitations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88D.md) - [TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01) TN Insurance Bulletin (1988-09-01): Abandonment of Automobile Salvage](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88I.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TN_INS_B_19880901_9_1_88B. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.