SB 676 requires gender clinics receiving state funding to offer both gender transition and detransition procedures, and mandates that insurers covering transition procedures must also cover detransition. It applies to all gender clinics licensed in Tennessee and insurance providers offering such coverage. The bill also mandates clinics to report detailed statistics on gender transition procedures (including patient age, procedure type, and diagnoses) to the Department of Health monthly, with annual public reports starting in 2025. These requirements aim to increase transparency around gender healthcare services while imposing specific obligations on covered providers.
SB 225 requires Tennessee health insurers to reimburse chiropractic physicians at the same rate as medical doctors for identical services, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 56 and 63. It prohibits insurers from using separate payment codes or methodologies for chiropractic services compared to physician services, ensuring equal reimbursement based on nationally recognized coding systems like the CPT book. This applies to private health insurance plans but excludes TennCare, CoverKids, and government-provided insurance. The bill aims to eliminate reimbursement disparities for chiropractors offering equivalent services to medical doctors. It was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2025, but failed in committee on March 25, 2025.
SB 579 would provide eligible Tennessee workers 12 weeks of job-protected leave for recovery after living organ donation surgery, with leave counted toward employment seniority. It prohibits insurers from denying coverage or charging more for life, disability, or long-term care insurance solely because someone is a living organ donor. The bill also requires the Tennessee Department of Health to create and post public educational materials about living organ donation by July 2025, covering benefits, risks, and insurance impacts. This bill directly affects living organ donors, employers, and insurance providers in Tennessee.
SB 1389 prohibits healthcare providers participating in Tennessee's TennCare or CoverKids programs from refusing to treat patients solely because they decline vaccines or immunizations. It requires the state to stop reimbursing providers who violate this rule and mandates the TennCare director to create implementing regulations. The law excludes oncology and organ transplant specialists from the prohibition. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, with rules to be established under state administrative procedures.
SB 898 creates a pilot program to improve maternal health care for pregnant TennCare recipients diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes through remote patient monitoring. The program provides participants with devices to track blood pressure and glucose levels, transmitting data securely to healthcare providers for real-time monitoring and support during pregnancy and up to three months postpartum. Administered by the Bureau of TennCare, it requires at least 300 participants across multiple counties and mandates that a technology vendor (selected by the bureau) deliver devices, provide training, and coordinate with healthcare teams. The pilot must be operational within 180 days of contracting with a managed care organization and technology vendor.
SB 185 establishes minimum (100%) and maximum (120%) reimbursement rates for rural hospitals providing routine inpatient services to TennCare enrollees. It directly affects rural hospitals defined as those with 49 or fewer beds located in non-urban census areas. The bill requires these rates to be based on each hospital's current Medicare reimbursement rates for the federal fiscal year, rather than a fixed formula. The legislation is pending review by the Senate Finance Committee and has not yet become law.
SB 210 establishes separate reimbursement rates for rural and urban ambulance services under Tennessee's TennCare program. Rural ambulance providers will receive 100% of Medicare's allowable charge for services to TennCare recipients, while urban providers receive 67.5%. The bill also authorizes emergency medical services equipment grants for for-profit rural ambulance providers. It defines "rural" and "urban" areas using federal standards (per 42 CFR 414.605) to determine service locations. This directly affects ambulance service providers operating in rural versus urban areas and ensures TennCare covers their services at these adjusted rates.
HB 7 creates a state grant program to help Tennessee colleges and universities address student hunger. It requires participating institutions (including public universities like the University of Tennessee and accredited private schools) to establish a student-inclusive hunger task force, operate or partner with a campus food pantry, and use grant funds for meal programs or pantry support. Institutions receiving grants must also report annually on their efforts to reduce food insecurity and share data about student needs. The program, administered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, depends on future legislative funding appropriations.
HB 179 modifies Tennessee's criminal abortion law by adding exceptions that exempt certain abortions from criminal prosecution. It specifies that performing an abortion is not a crime if it is necessary to protect the pregnant person's physical or mental health, or if the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest (as defined in Tennessee law). The bill amends Title 39, Chapter 15 of Tennessee Code, reclassifying such abortions as non-criminal under these specific circumstances. This change takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting licensed physicians performing abortions and pregnant individuals in these defined situations.
House Joint Resolution 91 is a symbolic resolution expressing the Tennessee General Assembly's support for the SREB Crisis Recovery Network. It directly supports Tennessee schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions by endorsing a regional network that provides long-term, specialized counseling services after crises like natural disasters, school shootings, or public emergencies. The resolution recognizes that schools often lack sustained mental health resources, especially in rural areas, and highlights the network’s role in deploying trained counselors to aid recovery for students, teachers, and communities over extended periods. This is a non-binding statement of support, not a law imposing new requirements.
