Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 2281: Opioids - As introduced, removes nonresidential substitution-based treatment centers for opiate addiction from the requirement of obtaining a certificate of need beginning July 1, 2026. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 11 and Chapter 985 of the Public Acts of 2024.

SB 2281 removes a regulatory requirement for nonresidential medication-based treatment centers treating opiate addiction in Tennessee. Specifically, it deletes provisions that currently mandate these centers obtain a state "certificate of need" to operate. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting opioid treatment providers that offer outpatient care using medications like methadone or buprenorphine. This policy simplifies the process for these facilities to establish or expand services without prior state approval.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves certificate of need requirement for opioid treatment centers, simplifying expansion of outpatient medication-based care and improving patient access to addiction treatment services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 2577: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, prohibits a pharmacy benefits manager from contracting with a state department, agency, or entity if the pharmacy benefits manager has been disciplined by the department of finance and administration or the department of commerce and insurance. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3; Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 56 and Title 71.

SB 2577 prohibits Tennessee state departments, agencies, and entities from contracting with pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) that have been disciplined by the Department of Finance and Administration or the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The bill amends Tennessee law to apply this restriction to TennCare (Section 1), state committees (Section 2), and all state departments/agencies (Section 3). It takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to new, amended, or renewed contracts after that date. This directly affects state health programs and agencies that work with PBMs, requiring them to avoid vendors with prior disciplinary actions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits state contracts with disciplined PBMs to ensure accountability in healthcare insurance, protecting patient access and program integrity through TennCare and state agency oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 2510: Health Care - As introduced, enacts the "Maternal Health Care Protection Act," which prohibits the exercise of a healthcare provider's right of conscience under the Medical Ethics Defense Act from allowing the provider to refuse to participate in or pay for pregnancy-related healthcare procedures, treatments, or services that are within the scope of the provider's license and professional obligations; prohibits the exercise of such right from allowing a healthcare institution or healthcare payer to adopt or enforce a policy, guideline, or contractual provision that results in the denial of pregnancy-related healthcare procedures, treatments, or services. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 1, Part 9.

SB 2510, the "Maternal Health Care Protection Act," prohibits healthcare providers, institutions, and payers from refusing to provide or pay for pregnancy-related care based on conscience objections. It directly affects medical professionals, hospitals, and insurance companies by requiring them to offer services like emergency care, diagnosis of pregnancy complications, and standard obstetric care within their professional scope. The bill amends Tennessee law to remove existing conscience exemptions for these specific services, ensuring providers cannot deny care due to personal beliefs. This applies to all pregnant patients, defined as individuals who are pregnant or reasonably believed to be pregnant, regardless of gestational age.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits conscience-based refusals in maternal care, ensuring access to pregnancy-related services and protecting patient rights within healthcare scope.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 2351: Nurses, Nursing - As enacted, revises various provisions regarding medication aides, including allowing for a student in good standing enrolled in an approved school of nursing to be eligible to receive a medication aide certificate. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 7.

HB 2351 updates Tennessee's medication aide certification rules to allow nursing students in good standing enrolled in approved nursing programs to qualify for certification without prior work experience as a nurse aide or occupational therapy assistant. To qualify, students must complete required coursework in medication administration, pharmacology, and nursing fundamentals with passing grades. This change directly affects nursing students seeking early career opportunities and healthcare facilities needing medication aides. The bill also adds new requirements for training program timelines (14-90 days) and exam pass rate calculations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access for nursing students by allowing certification without prior work experience, directly supporting higher education career pathways.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows nursing students to obtain medication aide certification without prior work experience, expanding healthcare workforce access and training pathways for medical professionals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 18, 2026

SB 2544: Interstate Compacts - As enacted, enacts the "Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Act." - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 63.

SB 2544 creates the "Respiratory Care Interstate Compact" to allow licensed respiratory therapists from one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining a new license. This directly affects respiratory therapists seeking to work across state lines, particularly military families relocating and those addressing workforce shortages in healthcare. The bill establishes standardized rules for license recognition, background checks, and disciplinary actions across member states while preserving each state's authority to protect public health. It aims to increase access to respiratory therapy services and streamline administrative processes for both therapists and states.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables cross-state practice for respiratory therapists, reducing workforce barriers and improving access to healthcare services in underserved areas.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentReduces licensing barriers for respiratory therapists, enabling interstate practice and addressing healthcare workforce shortages, directly supporting employment mobility and worker opportunities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

died · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 2196: Local Government, General - As enacted, authorizes Putnam County and incorporated cities within the county to regulate sober living homes for recovery from alcohol, drug, and substance abuse to the extent such regulation complies with the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 51, Part 26.

HB 2196 authorizes Putnam County and its incorporated cities (with specific population ranges) to regulate sober living homes for substance abuse recovery, provided rules comply with the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. The bill amends Tennessee law to define eligible local governments based on 2020 census population thresholds (county: 366,200-366,300; cities: 79,800-79,900). It directly affects sober living homes operating in Putnam County and its cities by establishing their regulatory framework. The key provision ensures local regulations cannot violate federal civil rights protections for residents seeking recovery housing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables local regulation of sober living homes for substance abuse recovery, ensuring compliance with ADA/Fair Housing Act to protect access. Supports healthcare by facilitating operation of facilities providing substance abuse treatment serv...85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 3, 2026

HB 2461: Taxes, Sales - As introduced, exempts the sale or use of feminine hygiene products from sales and use tax; directs the department of education to ensure feminine hygiene products are placed into and made available to students for free in a public school upon the request of a public school administrator, board, or director of schools. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 49 and Title 67, Chapter 6.

HB 2461 exempts feminine hygiene products (like tampons and sanitary napkins) from Tennessee's sales and use tax, effective July 2026. It also requires the state education department to provide these products for free in public schools upon request by school administrators or boards. The bill defines "feminine hygiene products" as items used during menstruation and clarifies they include common products like tampons and pads. This policy directly affects students in public schools and consumers purchasing these items.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts feminine hygiene products from sales tax, providing tax relief for consumers and aligning with middle-income affordability indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires free provision of feminine hygiene products in public schools upon request, directly improving student access to essential health needs affecting attendance and learning.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides free menstrual products in public schools, improving access to essential health items for students per bill's education mandate.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Sales Tax Student Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 2092: Health, Dept. of - As introduced, directs the department to create an outreach campaign regarding the ongoing research of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease; terminates the outreach campaign on July 1, 2027. - Amends TCA Title 68.

HB 2092 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to launch a public outreach campaign about Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease research, using print, radio, social media, and other materials. The campaign must include a toll-free hotline for individuals to report diagnoses or donate to research, with specific funding categories covering data portals, community outreach, materials, and evaluation. It mandates the campaign run until July 1, 2027, and takes effect on July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects individuals with this rare neurological condition and the Department of Health, which must implement these specific outreach mechanisms.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds public health outreach campaign for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease research, directly allocating resources to advance disease awareness and research under Department of Health.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 4, 2026

HB 2572: Health Care - As enacted, requires the department of health to make available to the public on its website all inspection criteria required for compliance by pain management clinics; makes other changes relative to pain management. - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 2572 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to publish on its website the inspection criteria pain management clinics must follow for compliance. It also mandates that the Department publicly post the criteria used to identify "high-risk" prescribers (those with high patient overdose rates) and establishes a process for removing this designation after prescribers complete required training. The bill exempts pain management specialists from the high-risk prescriber identification process and changes clinic reporting requirements from weekly to quarterly. These provisions increase transparency for clinics and prescribers while updating regulatory procedures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates transparency in pain management clinic inspections and creates process for correcting high-risk prescriber designations, improving patient safety and oversight in healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care Substance Abuse

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introduced · Tennessee · House Mar 2, 2026

HB 2295: Health, Dept. of - As introduced, directs the department to submit a report on the feasibility of creating and implementing a graduate physician licensure program that would allow a person who has graduated from an allopathic medical school and passed the United States Medical Licensing Examination, but who has not completed an accredited postgraduate residency program, to provide medical services within a framework of a continuous collaboration and supervision agreement with a licensed physician to the chair of the health and welfare committee of the senate and the chair of the committee of the house of representatives having jurisdiction over health-related matters on or before January 1, 2027. - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 2295 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to study creating a program allowing doctors who graduated from medical school and passed the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (but haven't completed residency) to provide care under supervision. The report must assess the feasibility of this "graduate physician licensure program" by January 1, 2027, detailing how such physicians could work within a continuous supervision agreement with licensed doctors. It directly affects physicians without accredited residency training who wish to practice in Tennessee. The bill mandates this study to inform future legislative decisions, but does not create the program or change current licensure requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires study of program enabling non-residency physicians to practice under supervision, aiming to expand healthcare access and provider availability through feasibility assessment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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