Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 1044: Health Care - As enacted, enacts the "Medical Ethics Defense Act." - Amends TCA Title 63.

HB 1044, now Public Chapter 266, enacts Tennessee's "Medical Ethics Defense Act" to protect healthcare providers' rights to refuse care based on conscience. It prohibits discrimination against providers who decline to participate in specific procedures (like certain reproductive or end-of-life care) that conflict with their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs, as defined in the law. The bill also shields providers from retaliation for reporting violations of these protections or disclosing concerns about patient safety. It explicitly excludes federal laws like EMTALA and religious institutions' employment decisions from its scope.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProtects providers' right to refuse care (e.g., reproductive/end-of-life services), restricting patient access to those services per bill's explicit purpose.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1198: Drugs, Prescription - As enacted, adds mandating the use of biosimilar drugs as a cost-saving measure the bureau of TennCare may implement; adds that a health carrier, health benefit plan, or utilization review organization may require a patient to try a biosimilar product prior to providing coverage for the equivalent branded prescription drug; requires the TennCare pharmacy advisory committee to consider as a factor the use of biosimilar drugs in the committee's recommendation to the bureau of TennCare on any drugs to be added to the state preferred drug list. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 53; Title 56; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 1198 requires Tennessee health insurers and TennCare to allow patients to try biosimilar drugs (cost-effective copies of brand-name medications) before covering the original branded drug. It amends state law to permit health carriers to mandate a biosimilar trial for equivalent branded prescriptions, removing prior requirements for generic drug trials. The bill also directs TennCare’s pharmacy committee to consider biosimilar drugs when recommending medications for the state’s preferred drug list. These changes aim to reduce prescription drug costs by increasing biosimilar adoption, as stated in the bill’s legislative findings.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareMandates biosimilar trial before branded drug coverage, restricting immediate access to branded medications and limiting patient choice per bill language.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 37: Opioids - As enacted, authorizes an insurer, for purposes of group insurance plans offered to state employees, to adopt or amend a state preferred drug list (PDL); requires the insurer to ensure that a non-opioid drug approved by the U.S. food and drug administration for the treatment or management of pain is not disadvantaged or discouraged with respect to coverage relative to an opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain on the PDL. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 37 requires insurers offering health plans to Tennessee state employees to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications equally with opioids on their preferred drug lists (PDL). It prohibits insurers from discouraging coverage for non-opioid options used for pain management, though it allows insurers to prefer one opioid over another or one non-opioid over another. This applies specifically to state employee group insurance plans covered under Tennessee Code Annotated sections 56-7-3801 to 56-7-3803. The law, effective January 1, 2026, aims to expand access to non-opioid pain treatments without mandating their preference.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain meds equally with opioids in state employee plans, improving patient access to alternatives and reducing opioid reliance.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 959: Medical Occupations - As enacted, makes various changes relative to marriage and family therapist licensure. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 63.

HB 959 updates Tennessee's licensure rules for marriage and family therapists. It allows students in accredited programs to use titles like "marital therapy intern" while supervised, and clarifies that associate license holders must use "associate licensed marriage and family therapist" or "AMFT" (not implying full licensure). The bill creates specific pathways for associate licensure, requiring a 9-month exam deadline and supervised practice under approved supervisors, while defining "approved supervisor" to include AAMFT-approved professionals. These changes directly affect therapy students, trainees, and practitioners seeking licensure in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill clarifies licensure pathways for marriage and family therapists, enabling more mental health professionals to practice under supervision, directly supporting mental health services within healthcare.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 843: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As enacted, declares Perry County Community Hospital in Linden and Decatur County General Hospital in Parsons to be necessary providers for the purpose of critical access hospital designation eligibility in accordance with Section 1820 of the Social Security Act. - Amends TCA Title 68.

HB 843 declares Perry County Community Hospital in Linden and Decatur County General Hospital in Parsons as "necessary providers" of healthcare services for federal critical access hospital (CAH) designation eligibility under Section 1820 of the Social Security Act. This enables both hospitals to qualify for federal CAH status, which provides crucial financial support and resources to sustain operations in rural areas. The bill directly affects these two specific hospitals, ensuring they can access federal benefits to continue serving vulnerable rural communities in Perry and Decatur counties. It requires the Tennessee Department of Health and Health Facilities Commission to facilitate the federal designation process.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables two rural hospitals to qualify for federal CAH funding, securing essential financial support to maintain healthcare services in underserved areas per Social Security Act provisions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 638: TennCare - As introduced, prohibits a healthcare provider who participates in the TennCare or CoverKids programs from refusing to provide healthcare services to an enrollee based solely upon the enrollee’s refusal to obtain a vaccine or immunization; prohibits the bureau from reimbursing a healthcare provider in violation of such prohibition; requires the director to adopt rules. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 638 prohibits healthcare providers participating in Tennessee's TennCare or CoverKids programs from denying services to enrollees solely because they refuse vaccines or immunizations. The bill requires the TennCare bureau to withhold reimbursement from providers who violate this rule and mandates the director to create implementing rules, including administrative review processes. Exceptions apply to oncology and organ transplant specialists. This law directly affects providers serving TennCare/CoverKids members and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits denial of care based on vaccine refusal, protects patient access to TennCare services, and mandates reimbursement compliance - directly advancing patient rights in healthcare access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 1280: Public Funds and Financing - As introduced, creates the medical expense relief fund to assist the next of kin and the estate of a decedent who was enrolled in TennCare at the time of death with paying the decedent's medical debt and expenses; requires the department of human services to administer the fund and the awarding of grants. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3; Title 9 and Title 71.

HB 1280 creates a $250 million "medical expense relief fund" within Tennessee's general fund to help the next of kin or estate of a decedent who was enrolled in TennCare at the time of death pay their unpaid medical debt and expenses. The Department of Human Services would administer the fund, setting application procedures, eligibility criteria (considering debt amount and need), and determining whether grants go to next of kin, the estate, or directly to creditors. Funds would be used solely for covering the decedent's medical costs, including unpaid TennCare benefits or premiums. The bill requires DHS to establish reporting mechanisms and submit annual reports to legislative committees, but it does not appropriate funds until the state budget act includes specific funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $250M fund within general fund for medical debt relief, funding essential public service program under Public Funds subject.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates $250M medical expense relief fund for TennCare decedents' unpaid medical debts, directly funding healthcare cost relief for vulnerable populations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 1084: Health, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to establish and administer a grant program to reimburse local education agencies, public charter schools, private schools, and medical first responders for the costs of anti-choking devices purchased by the local education agency, public charter school, private school, or medical first responder on or after July 1, 2025. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 68.

HB 1084 creates a state grant program to reimburse local schools (including public charter and private schools) and medical first responders for purchasing anti-choking devices. The program covers one device per school cafeteria and one device per emergency vehicle used by medical first responders, starting July 1, 2025. It limits total reimbursements to $500,000 and requires annual reports to the legislature detailing applications, awards, and funds used. The program expires on July 1, 2028, and requires separate legislative funding approval to operate.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides state reimbursement for schools to purchase anti-choking devices, directly funding school safety infrastructure and protecting student health within education context.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds anti-choking devices for schools and medical first responders, enhancing emergency response capabilities in healthcare settings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 693: Pharmacy, Pharmacists - As enacted, makes certain changes to the practice of pharmacy, including removing the present prohibition on requiring a patient to pay an administrative fee for pharmacist-provided hormonal contraceptives when the patient is insured or covered and receives a pharmacy benefit that covers the cost of the hormonal contraceptives. - Amends TCA Title 53, Chapter 10; Title 56, Chapter 32 and Title 63, Chapter 10.

HB 693 eliminates a requirement that could force insured patients to pay administrative fees for pharmacist-provided hormonal contraceptives when their pharmacy benefit already covers the cost. The bill directly affects insured patients using pharmacy benefits for hormonal contraceptives and pharmacists who dispense these medications. Key provisions amend Tennessee law to change language from "shall prohibit" to "must not prohibit" fees, ensuring patients cannot be charged extra for covered contraceptives. This change applies to all pharmacists authorized under Tennessee law who provide hormonal contraceptives to insured patients. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves administrative fees for insured patients receiving covered hormonal contraceptives, improving access and protecting patient rights under insurance coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1377: Insurance, Health, Accident - As enacted, enacts the "Voluntary Portable Benefit Plan Act"; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 50 and Title 65, Chapter 15, Part 3.

SB 1377, the Voluntary Portable Benefit Plan Act, allows businesses to voluntarily contribute to portable benefit plans for independent contractors. These plans, administered by third-party providers chosen by the contractor, cover health, disability, unemployment, life insurance, and retirement benefits. Contributions can be made directly by the business or by withholding a portion of the contractor’s pay, but only with a clear written opt-in agreement and the ability to opt out at any time. The bill amends Tennessee law to ensure these contributions cannot be used to determine a worker’s employment classification as an employee or independent contractor.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands health coverage access for independent contractors through voluntary portable benefit plans, explicitly including health as a covered benefit.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands benefits for independent contractors via voluntary portable plans covering health/unemployment, with opt-in/opt-out protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare