Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, nephew of JFK, joins Nashville health care company

Former U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy, a nephew of President John F. Kennedy who publicly battled with alcohol and pills while in office, has joined a large Nashville health care company to boost their behavioral health and addiction treatment programs.

Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat who was in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2011, is the newest member of the board of directors at Wellpath, formerly known as Correct Care Solutions, according to a news release. 

Wellpath provides medical and mental health care in state psychiatric hospitals and jails and prisons across the country.

“Wellpath’s expertise, quality of care, and dedication to comprehensive behavioral health care sets them apart when it comes to improving patient outcomes,” Kennedy said in the news release. “I look forward to working with the Wellpath team as they continue to expand behavioral health and addiction treatment programs to more than 300,000 patients across the country.”

Kennedy, the son of longtime Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, became an advocate for improving mental health care after several incidents during his political career exposed his abuse of alcohol and prescription medication. After leaving office, Kennedy founded several organizations focused on combating addiction.

In the Wellpath news release, CEO Jorge Dominicis described Kennedy's efforts as “revolutionary" for Americans who struggle with a mental illness.

“His proven success fighting for health equity and his lifelong commitment elevating the conversation on mental health and addiction care will help Wellpath achieve its mission to provide our patients with innovative, compassionate care,” Dominicis said.

Brett Kelman is the health care reporter for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 615-259-8287 or at brett.kelman@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter at @brettkelman.