Tennessee Department of Health requests new funding for dental pipeline, cancer screening and rural grants

Commissioner Ralph Alvarado presented the Tennessee Department of Health budget and a package of 11 cost increases to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, saying the proposals aim to expand dental training and access, add lung and colorectal cancer screening for eligible patients, and support rural health grants.

"We have, a total of 11, cost increases for the upcoming budget year," Alvarado told the committee as he opened the department presentation. He called the dental pilot and other rural investments "working" initiatives and described measurable expansion in dental education and services.

Alvarado outlined the largest requests first. The department seeks $24,200,000 in nonrecurring state funds for the fourth year of a Healthy Smiles dental pilot designed to expand dental class sizes and clinical rotations into rural and underserved areas. A separate nonrecurring request of $33,375,000 would continue a Lincoln Memorial…