HB 372, the "Tennessee Medicaid Modernization and Access Act of 2025," aligns TennCare’s reimbursement rates for key healthcare services - obstetrics/gynecology, primary care, outpatient mental health, and substance use disorder treatment - with either the Medicare fee schedule or average commercial rates in Tennessee, whichever is higher. This change directly affects healthcare providers who serve Medicaid patients and Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly in rural and underserved areas, by ensuring providers receive fairer compensation. The bill requires annual reviews to update rates based on Medicare or commercial benchmarks and mandates new annual reports on fiscal impacts and access improvements. It does not automatically appropriate funds but requires future budget allocations to cover implementation costs.
HB 511 requires healthcare providers, clinics, facilities, and other entities that contract with health insurance companies for patient care reimbursement to notify those insurers "as soon as practicable" if they experience a cyber-attack. This applies to all Tennessee entities billing insurers for healthcare services, directly affecting providers and insurers. The key provision mandates timely notification to help insurers protect patient data and manage claims during incidents. The bill amends Tennessee insurance and health codes (Titles 33, 56, 63, 68, and 71) to establish this requirement.
SB 922 requires Tennessee's Health Commissioner to study ways to help veterans with military medical training (like medics or corpsmen) become primary care providers in Tennessee, such as doctors, nurses, or physician assistants. The study must identify barriers in current laws, find where military training counts toward licensure, and suggest new or streamlined career pathways. It directs the commissioner to use existing department resources and report findings and recommendations to lawmakers by December 31, 2025. This bill does not change laws immediately but aims to create future options for veteran healthcare workers.
SB 555 requires healthcare providers, clinics, facilities, and related entities in Tennessee to notify all health insurance companies they work with "as soon as practicable" if they experience a cyber-attack. This applies to any organization that contracts with insurers for patient care billing. The law mandates immediate notification to help insurers protect patient data and maintain billing systems during security incidents. It amends Tennessee health insurance codes (Titles 33, 56, 63, 68, and 71) to implement this requirement. The bill focuses solely on triggering timely communication about cyber incidents, not on preventing attacks or altering insurance coverage.
SB 334, the "Tennessee Medicaid Modernization and Access Act of 2025," requires TennCare to update reimbursement rates for key healthcare services - including obstetrics/gynecology, primary care, outpatient mental health, and substance use disorder treatment - to match either the Medicare fee schedule or average commercial rates (whichever is higher) starting in 2025. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries (by improving access to these services) and healthcare providers (by ensuring fairer payments). The bill mandates annual rate reviews to maintain alignment with federal guidelines and allows providers to request administrative hearings for payment disputes. It also includes provisions for quality-based incentive payments in underserved areas and requires annual reports on fiscal impacts and service access improvements.
HB 828 directs Tennessee's Health Commissioner to study how to simplify career pathways for military medics (non-commissioned officers with medical training) to become primary care providers like doctors, nurses, or physician assistants. The study will identify bureaucratic barriers in current licensing rules, determine which military training counts toward state requirements, and suggest recruitment strategies. It must be completed using existing department resources and reported to lawmakers by December 31, 2025. This bill does not change laws directly but aims to inform future policy based on the study's findings.
