Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2394: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the report detailing strategies the department intends to use to increase resources for services and supports, including those funded by Medicaid, TennCare, or other public and private sources, to be submitted in an electronic format. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 33; Title 34; Title 52; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 2394 requires the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to submit its report on strategies to increase mental health and substance abuse resources in electronic format. The report must detail plans for services funded by Medicaid, TennCare, or other public and private sources. This bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law to mandate the electronic submission format, without changing the report's content or requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires report detailing strategies to increase mental health resources, aligning with support for mental health services and resource expansion.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2555: Medical Occupations - As introduced, reduces from 45 to 35 days, the amount of time the board of physician assistants has to either render a decision on a licensure application submitted by an individual licensed, registered, or certified as a physician assistant in another jurisdiction or inform the licensure applicant from another jurisdiction of the need to appear before the board. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 24; Title 33; Title 38; Title 49; Title 53; Title 55; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68; Title 71 and Chapter 1042 of the Public Acts of 2024.

HB 2555 shortens the timeline for Tennessee's Board of Physician Assistants to process license applications from out-of-state applicants. It reduces the processing deadline from 45 to 35 days for decisions or requests for additional information. This change directly affects physician assistants licensed in other states seeking to practice in Tennessee. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to applications submitted on or after that date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill shortens licensing timeline for physician assistants, facilitating faster entry of qualified medical professionals into Tennessee, improving patient access to care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Tags Licensing

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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 ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIntegrates TennCare into statewide planning council, expanding oversight of services/waivers to strengthen program coordination and reporting within healthcare framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2216: Firefighters - As introduced, requires this state's employee assistance program, including components for mental health and wellness, to be available to all active members of a volunteer fire department and all active volunteer members of a combination fire department; makes various other changes. - Amends TCA Section 8-50-119 and Title 68, Chapter 102.

SB 2216 requires Tennessee's state employee assistance program (EAP), including mental health and wellness services, to be available at no cost to all active volunteer firefighters and members of combination fire departments (which include both paid and volunteer staff). This expands existing EAP access beyond state employees to cover these volunteer fire service workers. The bill also amends related laws to remove outdated terms like "full-time" and update membership reporting requirements for fire departments. These changes aim to support volunteer firefighters' well-being through accessible, state-funded resources.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands free mental health services via EAP to volunteer firefighters, directly supporting mental health access for first responders.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands mental health/wellness EAP benefits to volunteer firefighters, strengthening workplace wellness support for a specific labor group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Employees

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introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 2310: Public Health - As introduced, requires healthcare provider regulatory authorities to report quarterly to the department of health the number and type of disciplinary actions taken against a healthcare provider for knowingly performing or offering to perform on a minor, or administering or offering to administer to a minor, a prohibited medical procedure. - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68, Chapter 33.

HB 2310 requires healthcare provider regulatory authorities in Tennessee to report quarterly to the Department of Health the number and type of disciplinary actions taken against providers who knowingly perform or offer prohibited medical procedures on minors. This applies specifically to disciplinary actions under existing laws governing prohibited procedures for minors, as amended in Titles 63 and 68 of Tennessee Code. The bill establishes a new reporting mechanism to increase transparency around disciplinary measures for violations involving minors' healthcare.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates reporting of disciplinary actions for providers violating minor health procedures, increasing transparency and protecting patient rights in healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 2287: Health Care - As introduced, requires TennCare to create a methodology to make medicaid facility fee reimbursement rates for birthing centers comparable to rates for similar services provided at a hospital; requires the department of health to give priority to allocating federal rural health transformation program grant funds to birthing centers in rural counties and urban counties that serve residents of rural counties. - Amends TCA Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 2287 requires Tennessee's Medicaid program (TennCare) to create a method for setting birthing center reimbursement rates that match hospital rates for similar services, with annual increases tied to hospital rate changes. It also directs the state health department to prioritize allocating federal rural health grant funds to birthing centers in rural counties, and to second priority to urban centers serving rural residents without local birthing options. This bill directly affects birthing centers (especially in rural areas) and Medicaid beneficiaries who use these services. The key changes are concrete: standardized reimbursement rates and targeted grant funding to improve access to maternity care in underserved regions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid reimbursement parity for birthing centers and prioritizes rural funding, improving access to maternal care services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Women's Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 2246: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As introduced, increases from 15 to 30 days, the time before the originally scheduled health facilities commission meeting at which an applicant's certificate of need application is to be heard by the commission by which a healthcare institution wishing to oppose such application must file written notice with the commission, and about which the applicant's published letter of intent in a newspaper of general circulation in the proposed service area of the project must contain a statement of notice. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 33; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68, Title 71 and Chapter 985 of the Public Acts of 2024.

SB 2246 extends the notice period for healthcare facility certificate of need applications in Tennessee from 15 to 30 days. This change directly affects healthcare institutions seeking to build or expand facilities (applicants) and those wishing to oppose such projects (opponents), requiring opponents to file written objections 30 days before commission meetings. The bill amends Tennessee law to require applicants' published notices in local newspapers to include a statement about this extended 30-day filing window for objections. The key provision streamlines the objection process by giving opponents more time to respond before commission hearings.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareExtends notice period for opponents to challenge healthcare facility expansions, increasing barriers to new facility approvals and limiting access to new services.85% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 2405: Public Employees - As introduced, requires, instead of authorizes, the state and local governments to provide fully paid health insurance coverage to the immediate family members of state and local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty on or after January 1, 2020; removes the two-year limitation on the state or local government's full payment of such coverage; adds that family members of officers who suffer catastrophic injuries on or after January 1, 2020, also qualify for such coverage; requires the state to reimburse local governments that provide such coverage. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27.

HB 2405 requires Tennessee state and local governments to provide fully paid health insurance coverage to the immediate families (spouses and dependent children) of law enforcement officers killed or suffering catastrophic injuries in the line of duty on or after January 1, 2020. The bill removes the previous two-year limit on this coverage and expands eligibility to include officers with qualifying catastrophic injuries, defined as permanent impairments meeting specific medical criteria (e.g., paralysis, severe burns, or brain/spinal cord injuries). It mandates that employers pay all premiums for these families and requires the state to reimburse local governments for the costs. This policy directly affects law enforcement officers' families and state/local government budgets, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill supports law enforcement by requiring health insurance for families of officers killed/injured in line of duty, directly addressing a key component of criminal justice policy.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates fully paid health insurance for qualifying families of law enforcement officers, expanding coverage eligibility and removing time limits on benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 2301: Education, Dept. of - As introduced, enacts the "School Mental Health Transparency Act"; requires the department to consult relevant agencies to compile a list of mental health resources; requires public schools to use the department's list to compile lists of mental health resources available to enrolled students and provide the lists to students' parents; requires that lists of mental health resources be published on the website of the department and each public school. - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7; Title 33 and Title 49.

SB 2301, the "School Mental Health Transparency Act," requires Tennessee's Department of Education to compile and publish a statewide list of mental health resources for students, including locations and residency-based availability limits, after consulting with agencies like health and children's services departments. Public schools must then use this state list to create their own local resource lists for enrolled students and provide them to parents or guardians (or to students aged 18+) at least once per school year, while also posting the lists on school websites. The law clarifies that listing a resource does not constitute state endorsement and does not mandate new funding or staffing. This applies directly to all public schools, students, and their families in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires schools to provide transparent mental health resources, enhancing student access to critical support services under education policy.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates statewide mental health resource list and school provision to parents, enhancing student access to mental health services per bill's transparency requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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failed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 2155: Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies - As introduced, establishes the Tennessee commission of insurance review; prohibits a health insurance entity from offering or maintaining a health benefit plan that uses downcoding in a manner that prevents the provider from collecting the fee for actual services performed either from the health benefit plan or the patient; makes other changes related to health insurance and health insurers. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 56 and Title 71.

This bill prohibits Tennessee health insurers from downcoding claims - adjusting them to lower-cost procedure codes that prevent healthcare providers from receiving payment for actual services rendered. It creates the Tennessee Commission of Insurance Review to handle complaints and enforce these rules, with seven members including health professionals and insurance industry experts. The law applies to all health benefit plans (excluding accident, disability, or limited coverage), requiring insurers to pay providers based on the actual services performed. These changes aim to ensure fair reimbursement for medical services while establishing oversight for insurance practices.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits downcoding to ensure providers receive full payment for services, protecting patient access and provider reimbursement under health insurance plans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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