A new proposal from the 3-Star Healthy Task Force is looking at ways to help people's health care in Tennessee.

The announcement came from the State Capitol as lawmakers look to develop a plan to improve healthcare access in Tennessee.

TennCare would be expanded via a phase-in program that places priority on veterans and people with mental health or substance abuse disorders under a proposal from the health care task force commissioned by Speaker Harwell.

The proposal from the 3-Star Healthy Task Force outlines a two-step program that encourages people to develop relationships with physicians, get behavioral health treatment in tandem with physical health treatment and includes a work and education component to help people into positions lucrative enough to finance commercial coverage.

Under the first phase, people would need either "a qualifying diagnosis of a mental illness" or proof of honorable discharge from the U.S. military in addition to making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level -- roughly $16,000 for an individual and $27,000 for a family of three.

Source:

Partner Station WMSR