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 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.
SB 165 updates Tennessee's funding formula for human resource agencies by increasing the state's maximum annual contribution to match local government funding. It sets new thresholds: for local assessments of 1-20 cents per capita, the state will match up to $295,000; for 21-30 cents, up to $340,000; and for 31+ cents, up to $370,000 annually. This directly affects local governments that fund human services through per capita assessments, allowing them to secure higher state funding based on their contribution levels. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13, Chapter 26, without changing eligibility requirements. The change aims to strengthen state-local partnerships in delivering human services to residents.
HB 310 creates a legal presumption that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosed in law enforcement officers or emergency medical responders (like EMTs and paramedics) was incurred while performing job duties, making it automatically eligible for workers' compensation coverage. This applies to those diagnosed after responding to specific incidents, shifting the burden to employers to prove otherwise. The bill amends Tennessee workers' compensation laws (TCA Title 7, Chapter 51 and Title 50, Chapter 6) to explicitly include these professions under the presumption, removing prior exclusions of "firefighter" language. It directly affects first responders who develop PTSD in the line of duty, streamlining their access to benefits starting July 1, 2025.
SB 1390 expands Tennessee's TennCare Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) by creating a new pilot program in a grand division without an existing PACE service area as of 2024. It also allows an existing PACE program in a specific county (population 366,200-366,300) to expand into contiguous counties meeting defined population thresholds (12,700-12,800; 32,800-32,875; or 108,600-108,700). The bill requires applicants to submit service area plans, market analyses, and proof of unmet need, while directing TennCare to coordinate referrals and monitor program quality. This law directly affects elderly Tennesseans eligible for nursing facility-level care who require comprehensive, integrated services through PACE programs.
HB 782 creates a new pilot PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly) program in one Tennessee grand division without an existing PACE program as of 2024, while allowing current PACE providers in counties with a 2020 census population of 366,200-366,300 to expand into contiguous counties meeting specific population thresholds (12,700-12,800, 32,800-32,875, or 108,600-108,700). It requires applicants to submit service area maps, market analyses proving unmet need, and CMS compliance certifications, and mandates annual reports to legislative leaders. The bill directly affects elderly Tennesseans eligible for PACE care (meeting federal CMS criteria) and PACE providers seeking to expand services. It became effective May 21, 2025, after Governor approval.
SB 289 creates a legal presumption that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosed in law enforcement officers and emergency medical responders (EMTs) is work-related if it results from responding to specific incidents, making it automatically eligible for workers' compensation coverage. This directly affects those first responders by streamlining their claims process without requiring separate proof of work connection. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 7-51-206 and 50-6-101 to replace "firefighter" with "law enforcement officer or emergency medical responder" throughout the relevant workers' compensation provisions. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to claims for PTSD incurred while performing official duties.
