Healthcare (Mental Health)

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 654: Insurance, Health, Accident - As enacted, revises certain protocols for mental health and substance abuse services. - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 71.

HB 654 requires most Tennessee health insurance plans (including TennCare and CoverKids) to cover mental health and substance abuse services through a specific integrated care model called the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (PCCM), starting July 1, 2025. This model involves primary care providers, care managers, and psychiatric consultants working together to coordinate treatment using validated tools. Insurers may only deny coverage for these services based on medical necessity if they already comply with existing state and federal parity laws. The law directly affects insurers, healthcare providers, and patients seeking mental health/substance abuse treatment covered by these plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for mental health/substance abuse services via integrated care model, expanding access and coordination under TennCare/CoverKids.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1200: Veterans Services, Dept. of - As introduced, allocates 1 percent of the revenue from sports gaming in this state to the department to be used to support veterans services in this state. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 49; Title 58; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 1200 allocates 1% of revenue generated from sports gaming in Tennessee to the Department of Veterans Services starting July 1, 2025. This funding directly supports state veterans services programs, including counseling, housing assistance, and other support initiatives for veterans. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to redirect this specific portion of sports gaming revenue to the veterans department. It does not change existing allocations for other services, such as the 4% currently dedicated to mental health and substance abuse services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects 1% of sports gaming revenue to fund veterans services, supporting essential programs without tax increases or defunding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates sports gaming revenue to veterans services including counseling and support initiatives, directly funding mental health and healthcare programs for veterans.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly allocates sports gaming revenue for veterans' housing assistance, directly funding a housing program as part of veterans services.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAllocates 1% of sports gaming revenue to fund veterans services including counseling and housing assistance, directly advancing state veterans programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse Veteran Housing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1199: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Dept. of - As introduced, adds legislative librarian to the list the department of mental health and substance abuse services must submit its quarterly report to on the implementation and impact of available suitable accommodations, including the number and length of any delayed admissions, in state-owned or -operated hospitals or treatment resources. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 16; Title 17; Title 18; Title 20; Title 21; Title 24; Title 29; Title 30; Title 32; Title 33; Title 34; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 1199 requires the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to include the legislative librarian as a recipient of its quarterly reports. These reports detail the implementation of accommodations, delayed admissions, and facility operations in state hospitals and treatment centers. The bill amends existing reporting requirements without changing service standards or funding. It directly affects the department’s reporting process by adding a new recipient for transparency purposes. The legislation is procedural, focusing solely on report distribution.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds legislative librarian to mental health reporting, enhancing oversight of accommodations and admission delays to improve service transparency and accountability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · House Jan 15, 2025

HB 68: Education, Dept. of - As introduced, changes the date, from October 15 to October 1, by which the department must notify local education agencies (LEAs) of all state and federal grants available to assist the LEA in expanding mental health services and resources in schools. - Amends TCA Title 49.

HB 68 changes a Tennessee law requiring the state Department of Education to notify local schools about mental health grants. Specifically, it moves the deadline for this notification from October 15 to October 1 each year. This affects all local education agencies (LEAs) in Tennessee that receive state or federal grants to expand school-based mental health services. The bill directly alters the timing of this notification, giving schools earlier access to funding information. The change is procedural and affects only the administrative timeline for grant distribution.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMoves grant notification deadline earlier (Oct 1 vs Oct 15), enabling schools to access mental health funding faster for expanded services, directly advancing educational support.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill accelerates grant notification timeline (Oct 1 vs Oct 15) for school mental health services, enabling earlier access to existing funding to expand care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SB 437: Insurance, Health, Accident - As enacted, revises certain protocols for mental health and substance abuse services. - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 71.

SB 437 requires most health insurance plans in Tennessee to cover mental health and substance abuse services through a specific integrated care model called the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (PCCM), effective July 1, 2025. This model involves primary care providers, care managers, and psychiatric consultants working together to coordinate patient treatment using validated tools and regular assessments. Insurance plans may deny coverage only if they comply with existing state and federal mental health parity laws (including the MHPAEA) and medical necessity standards. The requirement applies to TennCare and CoverKids programs when services are deemed medically necessary by program guidelines.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for mental health/substance abuse via PCCM, expanding access and support per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

died · Tennessee · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 613: Expunction - As introduced, allows an eligible petitioner to have the records of a conviction for driving under the influence of an intoxicant expunged if the person has no other criminal convictions and 20 years have elapsed since the completion of the sentence imposed; requires the petitioner to pay an additional $50.00 fee to be used by the county for certain alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment purposes. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 32 and Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 4.

SB 613, a proposed Tennessee bill, would have allowed individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) to have their criminal records expunged after 20 years from completing their sentence, provided they had no other criminal convictions. It required petitioners to pay a $50 fee, with the funds directed to county alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment programs. The bill amended Tennessee expungement law (TCA Title 40, Chapter 32) to extend the waiting period for DUI convictions from 10 to 20 years and added the fee requirement. The bill was introduced on January 31, 2025, but was withdrawn on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables expungement of DUI records after 20 years, reducing barriers to reintegration, and directs $50 fees to alcohol/drug treatment programs - core criminal justice reform elements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill directs $50 expungement fees to county alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment programs, explicitly funding healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 617: Education - As introduced, designates October as "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month" in all public schools; requires local education agencies and public charter schools to provide age-appropriate, research-based instruction related to fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades six through 12. - Amends TCA Title 15 and Title 49.

HB 617, nicknamed "Tucker's Law," designates October as "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month" in all Tennessee public schools and requires schools to provide age-appropriate, research-based instruction about fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades 6-12. The bill mandates that this instruction cover suicide prevention, fentanyl abuse risks, local resource access, and broader substance use education. It applies to all local education agencies and public charter schools, with implementation required starting July 1, 2025. The law specifies that instruction may be delivered by qualified entities like health agencies, schools, or mental health professionals.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates K-12 curriculum on fentanyl prevention, advancing student health education programs through required instruction.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school-based fentanyl abuse prevention and suicide awareness education, directly advancing public health initiatives and substance use prevention under healthcare policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 954: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires each law enforcement agency to develop and implement an alternative crisis response unit; requires the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to establish uniform training standards for alternative crisis response units in all law enforcement agencies. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 38.

HB 954 requires all Tennessee law enforcement agencies to create and implement alternative crisis response units by January 1, 2026. These units must pair a full-time police officer with a qualified mental health professional who leads mental health-related emergency calls. The bill mandates the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to establish uniform training standards for these units and provide annual officer training on supporting mental health professionals during crisis calls. The law directly affects every law enforcement agency in Tennessee and updates state statutes to formalize this crisis response model.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires mental health professionals in crisis response units, reducing police involvement in non-violent mental health emergencies - aligns with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health professionals in crisis response units, directly supporting mental health services by improving emergency care access and integration with law enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1248: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, requires health insurance carriers to provide mental health coverage in parity with alcoholism and drug dependence coverage. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 33; Title 39; Title 49; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 1248 requires Tennessee health insurance carriers to provide equal coverage for mental health services as they do for alcoholism and drug dependence treatment. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections related to health insurance (including Title 56, Section 56-7-2360(c)) to mandate that coverage for mental health must be "to the same extent" as coverage for substance use disorders. It directly affects health insurance carriers and their plans, requiring them to ensure parity in benefits, reimbursement rates, and coverage criteria. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to all new or renewed insurance policies after that date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mental health coverage parity with substance use disorder treatment, expanding access to mental health services under insurance plans per TCA amendments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 5, 2025

HB 1241: Abortion - As introduced, defines the terms "serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" and "lethal fetal anomaly"; specifies that a physician does not commit the offense of criminal abortion if, under certain circumstances, the physician performs or attempts to perform an abortion to address a lethal fetal anomaly or a premature delivery of an unborn child with a lethal fetal anomaly. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 29; Title 33; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 53; Title 56; Title 62; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 1241 defines two medical scenarios where a physician performing an abortion is not considered to commit criminal abortion: (1) when preventing maternal death or a "serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" (e.g., preeclampsia, but excluding mental health conditions), and (2) when addressing a "lethal fetal anomaly" (a condition diagnosed before 24 weeks that is incompatible with life outside the womb). For lethal fetal anomalies, the bill requires two physician concurrences in writing, documentation of perinatal care options offered to the patient, and specifies that abortions or premature deliveries must be performed to avoid fetal demise or maternal health risks. The law applies to licensed physicians in licensed facilities and amends multiple Tennessee Code sections related to women’s health.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts abortion access by limiting legal exceptions to specific medical scenarios, reducing patient access to reproductive healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Women's Health

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