SB 577 amends Tennessee's TennCare program by shortening the time frame for implementing the annual coverage assessment from seven days to five days. It also establishes limits on hospital payments under specific circumstances, directly affecting TennCare administrators and participating hospitals. The bill changes the timing requirement in Tennessee Code Annotated Section 71-5-2005(d)(2)(D) and became effective April 3, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.
HB 1000 modifies Tennessee's TennCare program by shortening the deadline for implementing the annual coverage assessment from seven to five days. This change directly affects the TennCare program and hospitals receiving directed payments, as it streamlines the timeline for assessing coverage. The bill's key provision is the specific deadline adjustment in TCA Title 71, Chapter 5, Section 71-5-2005(d)(2)(D). The bill became law as Public Chapter 115 on April 8, 2025.
HB 584 extends the expiration date of Tennessee's annual limit on new nursing home beds from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2029. The bill maintains the current cap of 125 new nursing home beds per fiscal year that the Health Facilities Commission can approve through its certificate of need process. This change directly affects nursing home operators seeking to expand their facilities and the commission responsible for reviewing such requests. The bill does not alter the 125-bed limit but only extends the period during which it remains in effect.
HB 395, the "Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act," prohibits Tennessee health insurers from covering organ transplants or post-transplant care if the organ was sourced from China or procured through sale/donation originating in China. It also bans medical and research facilities from using genetic sequencing equipment or software produced by entities linked to "foreign adversaries" (specifically targeting China per the bill's context), requiring replacement within 180 days. Additionally, the bill mandates that all genetic sequencing data must be stored within the United States, with remote access from outside the country prohibited without approval from the state health commissioner. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, directly affecting health insurers, hospitals, and research facilities operating in Tennessee.
HB 14 clarifies that Tennessee's definition of "abortion" does not include contraceptive use (such as birth control devices, medications, or procedures intended to prevent pregnancy) or the disposal of unimplanted embryos from fertility treatments (including related healthcare services and medications). The bill directly affects healthcare providers, patients, and fertility clinics by explicitly excluding these common medical practices from criminal abortion statutes. It amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-15-213 and related provisions to define these exclusions. The bill failed in the Health Committee's Population Health Subcommittee on March 18, 2025, and did not advance to the full legislature.
HB 1217 would repeal Tennessee's criminal abortion laws and establish a fundamental right to abortion before fetal viability (when a fetus can survive outside the womb) or when necessary to protect the pregnant person's life or health. The bill directly affects pregnant individuals in Tennessee by removing criminal penalties for abortions meeting these criteria and defining "reproductive health care" to include abortion services. Key provisions include banning state interference with these rights, defining "viability" based on a physician's medical judgment, and clarifying that a fetus has no legal rights under Tennessee law. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 39, 63, and 68 to implement these changes.
HB 1220, the "Tennessee Contraceptive Freedom Act," establishes a fundamental right for all individuals to make decisions about their reproductive health, including access to contraceptives and related information. It requires healthcare providers to either provide contraceptive services or refer patients to someone who can, and prohibits restrictions that single out contraceptive care or impede access. The bill defines "contraception" broadly (including emergency contraception and sterilization) and clarifies it is distinct from abortion. It applies directly to patients, healthcare providers, health insurance carriers, and public health agencies across Tennessee. The bill is currently pending, having failed in the Health Committee's Population Health Subcommittee on March 18, 2025.
HB 1212 establishes a temporary program to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services for Tennessee youth under 18. The program creates a web-based portal for age-appropriate mental health screenings, connects youth with providers for in-person or telehealth sessions, and reimburses providers for up to three initial sessions per youth using existing K-12 mental health funds. Providers must offer at least three sessions per youth to qualify for reimbursement, and the Department of Mental Health must run a public awareness campaign involving schools and community groups. The program expires on July 1, 2026, requiring a final report to health committees on service usage and outcomes.
HB 27, titled the "Reproductive Freedom Act," establishes a new legal framework protecting reproductive healthcare access in Tennessee. It defines "reproductive health care" to include abortion, contraception, prenatal care, and related services, and affirms individuals' fundamental rights to make decisions about their reproductive health without state interference. The bill requires health insurance plans to cover reproductive health care (Section 15) and repeals multiple existing state laws that restricted abortion access or imposed criminal penalties for reproductive care (Sections 2-22). This legislation directly affects all Tennesseans seeking reproductive healthcare by removing legal barriers and mandating coverage under state-regulated insurance plans.
HB 18 proposes a temporary health coverage program for Tennesseans who don't qualify for existing TennCare or CoverKids. It would provide up to 60 months of medical assistance (resetting at age 21) to individuals under 21 with income ≤138% of the federal poverty level, or adults ≥21 with similar income, subject to strict 12-month/24-month usage limits. The program requires a federal waiver by December 2025, uses 90% federal/10% state funding, and explicitly states it does not replace eligibility for regular programs (benefits pause if enrollment becomes possible). The bill failed in the Insurance Committee on March 5, 2025, and remains inactive.
