“Unlock Katie Beckett: Empower’s Quick‑Start Guide to Funding Your Child’s Care”
Empower doesn’t take insurance, but we do spend a lot of time helping families pay for therapy. The Katie Beckett waiver is the grant most of our Tennessee parents use to keep sessions affordable—so we gathered every lesson (and laugh) from the trenches into one easy post.
This waiver lets children with significant disabilities and/or complex medical needs get Medicaid‑level help even when the family’s income is “too high.” In short: your child’s needs, not your paycheck, decide.
Application Roadmap
Create a TennCare Connect account and—yes—get denied for TennCare on purpose. A financial denial unlocks Katie Beckett.
Watch your inbox—times two. TennCare and the Department of Disability & Aging run separate systems and will ask for the same docs. Keep digital copies handy.
Upload the basics: proof of identity, income, medical diagnosis, therapy orders, IEPs, etc. Creating the account and self‑referral happens online.
Prep for the in‑person assessment. A case manager visits to confirm daily‑living needs—have your documents and “day in the life” stories ready.
Hit submit and breathe. With Carehack’s guidance (more below) the whole thing usually takes < 1 hour; tackling it solo can stretch to 3–4.
Pro‑tip paperwork checklist: A single document (for example an IEP) can cover diagnosis, test scores, and therapy frequency—no need for a phone‑book stack.
How the money actually works
Calendar year clock. Funds load the moment you’re approved and reset every Jan 1—unused dollars do not roll over into new year.
LOMN first, receipts second. A Letter of Medical Necessity (LOMN) must be completed by your child’s physician and on file before any spending is eligible.
Using the debit card? Log into TASC within 30 days and click “verify purchase” for each Empower invoice, attaching the invoice and LOMN. Waiting longer can potentially risk freezing the card.
Prefer reimbursements? Batch your monthly invoices in a tidy folder, then upload them (with that same LOMN) in one sitting.
Good news: Empower invoices already include every field Katie Beckett wants, so that’s one less thing to worry about!
Meet your secret weapon: Empower x Carehack
Carehack is an education‑advocacy powerhouse that’s helped 40+ families sail through the Katie Beckett maze. They’ll:
walk you through every screen‑share and signature,
craft crystal‑clear LOMNs,
keep a running checklist of the docs above, and
teach you how to spend (and track) your funds like a pro.
In our experience, what feels like a half‑day paperwork slog alone shrinks to about 45 minutes with a Carehack guide at your side. Their coaching doesn’t stop at approval—they’ll troubleshoot the new TASC portal, flag invoice issues, and even suggest alternative grants if Katie Beckett isn’t a match.
Questions? Reach out to your Empower care team—we’re happy to connect you with Carehack or walk through any step of the waiver. You’ve got this!
*Please Note: If you currently have tenncare or qualify for tenncare (making you ineligible for Katie Beckett), let us know and we can connect you to Carehack, who can let you know what other options are available to help pay for our services.