TennCare - As introduced, enacts "Emma's Bill," which requires that when making a determination of medical necessity, the bureau shall take into consideration the patient's overall condition and use such overall condition as a factor to determine the level of funding and what medical items and services the patient receives, even if such determination does not result in the least costly course of diagnosis or treatment. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 71.
HB 364 ("Emma's Bill") changes Tennessee's TennCare program to require health officials to consider a patient's overall medical condition - not just cost - when deciding what care is medically necessary. It directly affects TennCare patients (especially those with complex needs like mobility issues, cognitive challenges, or life-support equipment) and the Tennessee Department of Health (the "bureau" managing TennCare). The bill adds specific factors to review, including mobility, communication ability, need for constant nursing supervision, and reliance on ventilators or life-sustaining equipment, even if more expensive care is needed. This overrides the previous rule that required choosing the "least costly alternative" for all decisions. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 3, 2025
Last action Apr 9, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
12
Key actions
6
Committee
9
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/12/2025
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Insurance Committee for 2/26/2025
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Insurance Committee
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Tenncare Subcommittee for 2/18/2025
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Insurance Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Tenncare Subcommittee
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Becky Jo Alexander
RRepublican
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about HB 364
Scope: TN
Hi! I can help you understand HB 364. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline