Healthcare (Long-Term Care) in Tennessee

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2476: Health Care - As introduced, exempts a nurse who provides home health services to four or less patients from hiring staff or maintaining an office in order to qualify for licensure as a home care organization by the health facilities commission; requires a nurse who does not hire staff or maintain an office to submit a request to the department of health for space at a location deemed appropriate by the department to securely store patient records. - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 2476 exempts registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants who provide home health services to four or fewer patients from needing to hire staff or maintain an office to qualify for home care organization licensure. Instead, these nurses must request secure record storage space from the Tennessee Department of Health, which is required to provide it upon request. The bill directly affects small-scale home health care providers who serve limited patient volumes. It amends Tennessee Code Titles 63 and 68 to implement this licensing change, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care Medical Licensing

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 2167: Boards and Commissions - As enacted, integrates the bureau of TennCare into the statewide planning and policy council’s structure and mission by adding the director of long-term care services and a managed care organization representative to its membership; expands the council’s advisory and reporting duties to include TennCare’s director, services, and waiver implementation alongside existing department programs. - Amends TCA Title 52, Chapter 5, Part 6 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

SB 2167 integrates Tennessee's TennCare program into the statewide planning and policy council by adding the director of long-term care services and a managed care organization representative to the council's membership. The bill expands the council's advisory and reporting duties to specifically include TennCare's director, services, and waiver implementation, alongside existing department programs. It amends Tennessee Code to update references from "the department" to include "the bureau of TennCare" in council functions and reporting requirements. This structural change affects the council, TennCare operations, and managed care organizations that contract with TennCare. The bill does not alter TennCare's policies or funding but changes how the program is coordinated within the state's planning structure.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

failed · Tennessee · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 2088: Health Care - As introduced, exempts a nurse who provides home health services to four or less patients from hiring staff or maintaining an office in order to qualify for licensure as a home care organization by the health facilities commission; requires a nurse who does not hire staff or maintain an office to submit a request to the department of health for space at a location deemed appropriate by the department to securely store patient records. - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 2088 allows nurses providing home health services to four or fewer patients to qualify for home care organization licensure without needing to hire staff or maintain an office. Instead, these nurses must request secure, department-approved space from the Tennessee Department of Health to store patient records. The bill specifically applies to licensed registered nurses, practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants working with limited patients. It amends Tennessee law (Titles 63 and 68) and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care Medical Licensing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2425: TennCare - As introduced, requires an eligibility determination of an individual for residential facility benefits to evaluate the individual's physical condition and mental condition separately. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

SB 2425 requires TennCare to separately evaluate an individual's physical and mental conditions when determining eligibility for residential facility benefits, such as nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities. This change applies to all individuals seeking these benefits under Tennessee's Medicaid program. The bill mandates that eligibility scoring must assess physical health and mental health as distinct factors, rather than combining them. It directly affects TennCare beneficiaries applying for or receiving residential care services. The policy change aims to ensure more precise eligibility assessments by addressing physical and mental health needs independently.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Mental Health

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 2307: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As introduced, enacts the "The Frank J. Lake III Act"; requires a long-term care ombudsman for an assisted-care living facility to notify all residents of such facility if the facility contacts the ombudsman; directs the health facilities commission to post a certain specified notice on the commission's website if an assisted-care living facility is placed on probation; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 11.

SB 2307, known as "The Frank J. Lake III Act," requires assisted-care living facilities in Tennessee to notify all residents or their representatives if the facility contacts the long-term care ombudsman. It also mandates the state health facilities commission to post a specific notice on its website when a facility is placed on probation or if disciplinary action is pending, clarifying that the notice does not admit any deficiency. Additionally, facilities must provide residents with a website link showing their current licensure status and any history of disciplinary actions before admission or contract signing. These provisions aim to increase transparency about facility oversight for residents and their families.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medical Licensing

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1688: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As introduced, enacts the "The Frank J. Lake III Act"; requires a long-term care ombudsman for an assisted-care living facility to notify all residents of such facility if the facility contacts the ombudsman; directs the health facilities commission to post a certain specified notice on the commission's website if an assisted-care living facility is placed on probation; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 11.

HB 1688, "The Frank J. Lake III Act," requires assisted-care living facilities in Tennessee to notify all residents (or their guardians/representatives) if they contact the long-term care ombudsman (Section 4). It also mandates the Health Facilities Commission to post specific notices on its website when a facility faces disciplinary action, including probation or a 30-day fact-finding period (Sections 2-3). Additionally, facilities must provide written disclosure of their licensure status and disciplinary history to residents before admission (Section 5). These changes, effective July 1, 2026, directly affect residents, facilities, and the commission by increasing transparency around facility oversight.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medical Licensing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 1797: Managed Care Organizations - As enacted, prohibits a managed care organization from including a provision in the managed care organization's contract with a qualified nursing facility to provide medicaid nursing facility services, that permit actual or constructive termination by the MCO without cause, for convenience, or termination without specifying the grounds for termination; requires the bureau of TennCare, in conjunction with the department of commerce and insurance, to review and approve all standard contract templates used by MCOs for facility contracting to ensure compliance. - Amends TCA Title 56; Title 68, Chapter 11 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

SB 1797 prohibits managed care organizations (MCOs) in Tennessee from unilaterally suspending, denying, terminating, or otherwise ending contracts with qualified nursing facilities participating in the TennCare program. The bill directly affects nursing homes certified to provide Medicaid nursing care and MCOs that contract with them. Key provisions require MCOs to report concerns about facility performance to the Bureau of TennCare (not to act independently), and grant the bureau exclusive authority to determine termination - only allowing MCOs to act if the bureau has authorized termination, suspended payments for fraud, or if the facility was excluded from Medicare/Medicaid. The bill ensures nursing facilities cannot be removed from TennCare networks without bureau approval, maintaining service continuity for Medicaid beneficiaries during reviews.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Medicare

in committee · Tennessee · House May 18, 2026

HB 1914: Veterans - As enacted, authorizes state veterans' homes to provide services other than skilled nursing services to honorably discharged veterans. - Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 7.

HB 1914 amends Tennessee law to allow state veterans' homes to provide services beyond skilled nursing care to honorably discharged veterans, as permitted by state or federal law. This directly affects veterans who may need non-skilled care services, such as community support or transitional housing, at state facilities. The bill updates Section 58-7-101(e) to explicitly authorize these additional services while maintaining existing skilled nursing offerings. It also makes minor administrative updates to related sections regarding facility operations and contracts. The changes aim to expand care options for veterans without altering eligibility or funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Memorials & Recognition Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1053: TennCare - As introduced, requires the director to take such actions as the director deems necessary to enable the bureau to make available to an enrollee in Part A of the Katie Beckett program the option to use the wraparound home- and community-based services funds allotted to the enrollee by means of a health reimbursement arrangement, including seeking a waiver amendment or new amendment. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

SB 1053 would allow TennCare enrollees in Part A of the Katie Beckett program (children with disabilities requiring long-term care) to access their allocated community-based care funds through health reimbursement arrangements instead of traditional service delivery. The bill requires the TennCare director to take necessary actions, including seeking federal waiver amendments, to enable this option. It directly affects families enrolled in the Katie Beckett program by expanding how they can use their state-funded care resources. The change modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 71-5-164 to implement this flexibility in fund utilization. This is a procedural policy change focused on administrative access to existing funds.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 712: Disability and Aging, Dept. Of - As enacted, directs the commissioner and the director of TennCare to develop guidelines for service providers for hiring qualified family members as a family caregiver; specifies that the department and the bureau of TennCare shall not prohibit qualified individuals from employment as a family caregiver at a service provider agency based on certain listed criteria. - Amends TCA Title 52 and Title 71.

HB 712 requires Tennessee's Department of Disability and Aging and TennCare to create and publish guidelines for hiring family members as caregivers for individuals with disabilities receiving Medicaid services. It prohibits service providers from denying employment to qualified family caregivers based on factors like family relationships, residence, age, guardianship status, or specific Medicaid waiver programs (including Katie Beckett and self-determination waivers). The bill also prevents providers from reducing benefits for individuals with disabilities solely because care is provided by a family member, unless through the person-centered planning process. This directly affects family caregivers seeking employment, disability service providers, and individuals receiving long-term care services under Tennessee's Medicaid programs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid

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