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.
This bill prohibits Tennessee health insurers from downcoding claims - adjusting them to lower-cost procedure codes that prevent healthcare providers from receiving payment for actual services rendered. It creates the Tennessee Commission of Insurance Review to handle complaints and enforce these rules, with seven members including health professionals and insurance industry experts. The law applies to all health benefit plans (excluding accident, disability, or limited coverage), requiring insurers to pay providers based on the actual services performed. These changes aim to ensure fair reimbursement for medical services while establishing oversight for insurance practices.
SB 920 increases compensation for healthcare providers who perform forensic medical exams on sexual assault victims from $1,000 to $2,500 per exam, effective July 1, 2025. It also requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to complete DNA testing on sexual assault evidence kits within 120 days of receiving them from law enforcement, with written explanations for delays beyond that timeframe. The bill affects healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies, and the Bureau of Investigation by changing payment standards and establishing new timelines for evidence processing. Kits flagged for delay must be analyzed "within a reasonable time thereafter," and the bill clarifies that delays don't affect evidence admissibility. These changes apply to exams performed and kits received on or after July 1, 2025.
SB 402 prohibits healthcare providers from reporting a patient's medical debt to credit bureaus and bans credit bureaus from including medical debt in consumer credit reports. It directly affects patients (preventing medical debt from damaging credit scores), healthcare providers (who can no longer report such debt to bureaus), and credit bureaus (which must remove existing medical debt records). The law takes effect July 1, 2025, covering all medical debt from healthcare services, though providers may still report to debt collectors. Violations are enforced under Tennessee's Consumer Protection Act, with remedies available through the Attorney General's office.
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.
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.
HB 717 creates the "Caring for Caregivers Act," establishing a pilot program that provides financial grants to family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. It directly affects caregivers who provide unpaid care to eligible family members living in private homes (not facilities) and incur eligible expenses like home modifications, medical equipment, or respite care. The program offers up to $6,000 annually per caregiver, with eligibility based on household income not exceeding $37,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) and requiring the care recipient to need assistance with at least two activities of daily living. The pilot runs from July 2025 through December 2028, funded through initial appropriations and dedicated state funds.
This bill creates the "Tennessee National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act," establishing a state program to reimburse Tennessee National Guard members for certain health insurance premiums. It specifically covers premiums paid for TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Dental coverage by eligible members who are Tennessee National Guard members and qualify for those programs. The military department will administer the program, with the adjutant general setting application rules, and it will not reimburse premiums already covered by federal government payments. The program requires separate annual appropriations by the legislature and takes effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 783 authorizes Tennessee local governments (counties, cities, or metropolitan areas) to regulate sober living homes - residences for adults recovering from substance abuse without formal treatment - to ensure they comply with federal fair housing and disability laws. Key provisions include requiring these homes to be at least 1,000 feet from schools/daycares, allowing local zoning rules, and mandating clinical referrals from licensed healthcare providers before residency. The law directly affects sober living home operators, residents, and local governments implementing these rules. It becomes effective immediately upon the governor’s signature (May 21, 2025), updating Tennessee housing codes to balance local oversight with federal civil rights protections.
