TennCare Phones Open to Assist Residents with Unpaid Medical Bills

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- Low-income residents who require assistance with high unpaid medical bills can register to enroll in the TennCare Standard Spend Down program on Monday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The program is available for a limited number of applicants including those who are aged, blind, disabled, or the caretaker relative of a Medicaid eligible child. The program will close when the first 2,500 calls are reached.

Interested applicants who meet eligibility requirements, which include an unpaid medical bill issued within the last 90 days and family resources of less than $3,000 for a family of two, can call 1-866-358-3230 to apply.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Health Officials Suggest Using 'MyPlate' for Healthier Eating

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- With September being "Fruits and Veggies: More Matters Month," the Tennessee Department of Health is encouraging residents to take the guesswork out preparing a healthy meal.

The department is recommending that Tennesseans use the "MyPlate" icon developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to determine how much of each food group one needs in each meal.

Health officials are urging residents to follow the MyPlate example when preparing a meal, including the suggestion of letting fruits and vegetables take up half of one's plate.

More information on the MyPlate icon can be found by visiting www.choosemyplate.org.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

TVA Changes Focus of Renewable Energy Program

(KNOXVILLE, Tenn.) -- The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is changing its renewable energy program to focus on smaller projects.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that the Generation Partners renewable energy program, introduced in 2004, will turn its resources toward supporting customers who require less kilowatts of energy because, according to a TVA spokeman, they were not prepared for the popularity of solar energy. It is hoped that this will help to maintain and hopefully grow the sustainability of the program.

The new program will reach more customers including those who reside in rural communities.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Tennessee’s Biggest Health Insurer Adopts Solar Panels

(CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.) -- Tennessee’s biggest health insurer is installing Chattanooga’s largest solar energy system on the roof of its downtown Chattanooga buildings in an effort to conserve both energy and money.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that BlueCross BlueShield is adding the panels to the roof of the Gateway Building on West M.L. King Boulevard.

Sustainable Future LLC of Knoxville is installing the panels that will nearly cover the entirety of the roof— cutting BlueCross BlueShield's electric bill by an estimated $53,068 a year.

The solar project costs an estimated $915,000 and will generate an average 241,217 kilowatt-hours of electricity every year.

BlueCross achieved Gold status certification for its Leadership in Energy and Efficiency Design in 2010 at its corporate campus on Cameron Hill.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Fallen Firefighters to be Honored in Memorial Ceremony

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- Tennessee's fallen firefighters, along with their compatriots who lost their lives during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, will be honored during a memorial ceremony on Saturday.

Officials say the ceremony will be held at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy from 4 p.m.

In honor of those firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty in Tennessee, a bronze statue of a firefighter will be unveiled in the center of the Fallen Firefighter Memorial. Also scheduled to be unveiled is a bronze beam from the World Trade Center, honoring the 343 firefighters who lost their lives in the 9/11 terror attacks.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio