HB 435 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Consumer Protection - As introduced, requires a healthcare facility that accepts public funds as compensation for losses due to providing uncompensated care to ensure that an amount of outstanding patient debt equal to the amount of public funds accepted is designated as satisfied and that patient is notified of such satisfied debt; prohibits the healthcare facility from seeking a judgment or taking other legal action to collect from the debtor any portion of such debt that is so designated; requires the department of health and division of TennCare to submit an annual report on uncompensated care payments to hospitals. - Amends TCA Title 9, Chapter 8; Title 16; Title 18; Title 20; Title 21; Title 27; Title 28; Title 29; Title 33; Title 45; Title 47; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 435 requires Tennessee healthcare facilities that receive public funds to cover costs from providing free care (uncompensated care) to automatically cancel an equal amount of patient debt. The facility must notify the patient about the canceled debt amount and stop all efforts to collect that portion. It also mandates the Department of Health and TennCare to submit annual reports detailing public funds used for uncompensated care. This bill directly affects healthcare facilities and patients with outstanding medical debt, changing how facilities handle debt collection after receiving public compensation.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Last action Feb 5, 2025
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Health Committee- Government Operations for Review
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Justin Jones
Justin Jones
DDemocratic
TN
52