Keith Gaither
Keith Gaither is the Director of Managed Care Operations for TennCare, Tennessee’s $10.6 billion Medicaid managed care program. TennCare functions as the largest health insurer in the state, providing coordinated physical, behavioral and long term care coverage to 1.2 million Tennesseans.
Mr. Gaither is responsible for managing TennCare’s relationship with its three managed care companies, CHIP contractor, and the state mental health and children’s services agencies. Those responsibilities include MCO contract compliance and enforcement, behavioral health operations and integration, and program integrity. In that capacity he has completed the integration of managed behavioral health services into a single managed care model. In 2009, TennCare and Mr. Gaither’s team received the President’s Award from Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations for their work in implementing integrated behavioral health into managed care plans. Tennessee is currently in the planning stages of implementing patient centered medical homes and health homes for seriously and persistently mentally ill members as part of a SIM testing grant application.
Three Streams: Approaches to Behavioral Health Integration
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
