(a) Any entity that seeks to administer the program in a community pursuant to any competitive bidding process shall submit an application to the department. At a minimum, the application shall specify the basic elements and procedures that the entity shall use in administering the program. Basic program elements shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
Entity: means any nonprofit, not-for-profit, or for-profit corporation, religious or charitable organization, institution of higher education, visiting nurse association, existing visiting nurse program, local health department, county department of social services, political subdivision of the state, or other governmental agency or any combination thereof. See Tennessee Code 68-1-2403
Health care and services facility: means a health care entity or facility identified pursuant to §. See Tennessee Code 68-1-2403
Low-income: means an annual income that does not exceed two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty level. See Tennessee Code 68-1-2403
Program: means the nurse home visitor program established in this part. See Tennessee Code 68-1-2403
written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) The specific training to be received by each nurse employed by the entity to provide home nursing services through the program;(2) The protocols to be followed by the entity in administering the program;(3) The management information system to be used by the entity in administering the program;(4) The reporting and evaluation system to be used by the entity in measuring the effectiveness of the program in assisting low-income, first-time mothers; and(5) An annual report to both the health care and services facility and the community in which the entity administers the program that reports on the effectiveness within the community and is written in a manner that is understandable for both the health care and services facility and members of the community.(b) Any program application submitted pursuant to this section shall demonstrate strong, bipartisan public support for and a long-term commitment to operation of the program in the community.(c) The department shall initially review any applications received pursuant to this section and submit to the health care and services facility for review those applications that include the basic program elements. Following its review, the health care and services facility shall submit to the department the name of the entity or entities that the health care and services facility recommends to administer the program.
