Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 853: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Healthcare Quality and Access Act of 2025." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 34; Title 42; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68; Title 71 and Chapter 985 of the Public Acts of 2024.

SB 853 proposes to replace Tennessee's current certificate of need (CON) system with the "Tennessee Healthcare Quality and Access Act of 2025." It requires state approval (a certificate of need) before healthcare facilities can build new structures, increase bed counts (especially in nursing homes), or relocate, aiming to regulate facility expansion. The bill includes exemptions for relocations if at least 95% of current patients remain in the same zip codes, access for underserved communities isn't reduced, and commercial insurance doesn't increase disproportionately. This directly affects hospitals, nursing homes, and healthcare providers seeking major facility changes, with the Health Facilities Commission overseeing applications and enforcement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill replaces CON system with 'Quality and Access Act', aiming to improve facility expansion regulation for better access, especially in underserved areas.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 1354: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Dept. of - As introduced, directs the department to develop and implement a suicide prevention program; requires the department to submit a report to legislative committees with jurisdiction over health-related matters on this program and any suggestions from the department based upon the research conducted from the previous calendar year. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 1354 directs Tennessee's Department of Mental Health to create and implement a suicide prevention program. The program must include community-based prevention, support for individuals who have attempted suicide, partnerships with local organizations, research on suicide rates across diverse groups, strategies to reduce access to lethal means, and postvention support for affected families. The department must annually report to health committees on the program's progress and research findings by January 1. This bill affects all Tennessee residents by requiring state-level action on suicide prevention services, with implementation beginning in 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects creation of suicide prevention program requiring community services, research, and annual health committee reports, advancing mental health care access and funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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signed · Tennessee · House May 14, 2026

HB 29: Chiropractors - As enacted, requires certain insurers to reimburse chiropractic physicians at the same rate as physicians for the same services. - Amends TCA Title 56, Chapter 7 and Title 63.

HB 29 requires health insurance companies to reimburse chiropractic physicians at the same rate as medical doctors for identical services, using the same payment methodology. It prohibits insurers from creating separate chiropractic codes or rates to avoid this requirement, applying to standard medical coding systems like CPT. The law directly affects chiropractors and insurers, but excludes state Medicaid (TennCare), CoverKids, and government-provided insurance. Key provisions mandate equal reimbursement calculations based on nationally recognized codes, with no impact on existing payment structures for exempt programs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to reimburse chiropractors equally to physicians for identical services, expanding access to chiropractic care under private insurance by mandating equal payment rates and prohibiting rate discrimination.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 851: TennCare - As introduced, authorizes the governor to expand medicaid pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; authorizes the governor to negotiate with the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services to determine the terms of the expansion. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

SB 851 would authorize Tennessee's governor to expand Medicaid coverage for low-income residents under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), directly affecting thousands of Tennesseans currently ineligible for Medicaid. The bill specifically allows the governor to negotiate the terms of this expansion with federal officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It amends state law to remove barriers to implementing the ACA's Medicaid expansion, which would extend health coverage to more adults with low incomes. The bill does not create new funding but provides the legal framework for the state to join the federal Medicaid expansion program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly authorizes Medicaid expansion under ACA, removing barriers to extend coverage for low-income Tennesseans, directly advancing healthcare access and funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 522: TennCare - As enacted, authorizes the bureau to provide coverage and treatment on behalf of an enrollee for the diagnosis, including genetic testing, and treatment of Kleefstra syndrome in the same manner and to the same extent that the bureau provides coverage for autism spectrum disorder, Trisomy 21 or Down syndrome, and other similar or related genetic disorders, when determined to be medically necessary. - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 71.

SB 522 requires Tennessee's TennCare program to cover diagnosis (including genetic testing) and treatment for Kleefstra syndrome - a rare genetic disorder causing developmental delays, intellectual disability, and physical symptoms - on the same terms as coverage for autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and similar genetic conditions. This mandate applies directly to TennCare enrollees diagnosed with Kleefstra syndrome, ensuring access to therapies, medications, and interventions aimed at improving quality of life. The bill updates TennCare coverage rules to include this condition under existing standards for comparable genetic disorders. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates TennCare coverage for Kleefstra syndrome diagnosis/treatment identical to autism/Down syndrome, expanding health coverage for rare genetic disorders without restrictions.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 513: Pensions and Retirement Benefits - As introduced, extends, from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2028, the authorization for an emergency medical service employee who has been retired for at least 60 days from TCRS to accept employment as an emergency medical services employee without loss or suspension of retirement benefits if certain conditions are met. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 36, Part 8 and Title 68, Chapter 140, Part 3.

SB 513 extends the deadline for retired emergency medical services (EMS) employees to return to work without losing retirement benefits from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2028. This affects EMS workers who retired from the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) and wish to rejoin the workforce after at least 60 days of retirement, provided they meet specific conditions. The bill amends Tennessee law (TCA Title 8, Chapter 36, Part 8 and Title 68, Chapter 140, Part 3) to update the expiration date for this provision. The change ensures eligible retirees can continue working in EMS roles without penalty for an additional three years.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends retirement benefit continuity for EMS workers, enabling workforce stability in emergency healthcare services without financial penalty.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends retirement benefit continuity for EMS workers returning to employment, protecting benefits without penalty per TCA amendments.95% confidence

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failed · Tennessee · House Mar 4, 2025

HB 598: Right to Die - As introduced, creates a process whereby an adult suffering from a terminal disease may request medication for the purpose of ending the adult's life in a humane and dignified manner if certain requirements are met. - Amends TCA Title 32; Title 39; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 598 would establish a legal process for capable adults in Tennessee with a terminal illness to request medication to end their life under strict conditions. To qualify, an adult must be a resident of Tennessee, diagnosed with an incurable disease expected to cause death within six months, and confirmed capable by both an attending physician and a consulting physician. The process requires a written request witnessed by two non-relatives (not beneficiaries or healthcare staff), counseling to ensure the decision is voluntary and informed, and full disclosure of the patient's diagnosis, prognosis, risks, and alternatives like hospice care. The bill amends Tennessee laws across multiple titles to create these requirements and procedures for end-of-life medication requests.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables patient-controlled end-of-life care under medical supervision, expanding patient rights within healthcare access per support indicators.92% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1356: TennCare - As introduced, directs the governor to seek a new TennCare waiver within 180 days of the effective date of this act to provide medical assistance coverage for individuals whose gross annual income is equal to or less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level; clarifies that the amendment takes effect upon federal approval. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

SB 1356 directs Tennessee's governor to apply for a new federal waiver within 180 days of the bill's effective date. This waiver would expand TennCare coverage to cover individuals with gross annual incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. The coverage would begin only after federal approval, as specified in the bill. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, to implement this change.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands TennCare coverage to individuals at or below 138% of federal poverty level, directly increasing healthcare access for low-income residents per bill's mandate.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1104: TennCare - As introduced, removes the requirement that the governor receive authorization by the general assembly prior to making any decision or obligating the state with regard to the expansion of optional enrollment in the medical assistance program. - Amends TCA Title 71.

HB 1104 removes a requirement that the Tennessee governor must obtain approval from the state legislature before making decisions about expanding Medicaid enrollment (TennCare). This change directly affects the governor's authority regarding Medicaid program expansions, eliminating the need for legislative authorization. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 71 by deleting Section 71-5-126, which previously mandated that legislative approval be secured for such decisions. The policy change allows the governor to act independently on Medicaid expansion without prior consent from the General Assembly.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves legislative approval barrier for Medicaid expansion, enabling easier program growth and increased coverage access per bill's intent to streamline TennCare enrollment decisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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failed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 1376: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, prohibits an out-of-network ambulance service provider from balance billing an enrollee in a health benefit plan for emergency ambulance services; establishes allowable billable costs for such services. - Amends TCA Title 56, Chapter 7 and Title 68, Chapter 140.

SB 1376 prevents out-of-network ambulance providers from balance billing patients for emergency ambulance services covered under their health insurance plan. It caps patient payments at the lesser of their plan's in-network cost-sharing amount, the ambulance provider's full bill, or 325% of the federal Medicare rate for similar services in the area. Health insurers must count any payment made by the patient toward their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. The law applies to health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents out-of-network balance billing for emergency ambulance services, protecting patients from excessive costs and ensuring payments count toward deductibles, aligning with patient rights and access protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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