Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2499: TennCare - As introduced, requires a managed care organization or pharmacy benefits manager that is contracted with the bureau to reimburse a claim for a long-acting injectable drug intended for treatment and prevention of human immunodeficiency virus and administered in a pharmacy, physician's office, clinic, ambulatory surgical treatment center, or hospital. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 56 and Title 71.

SB 2499 requires TennCare-managed care organizations (MCOs) and pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to reimburse claims for long-acting injectable HIV treatment and prevention drugs administered in pharmacies, clinics, or medical facilities. This directly affects TennCare enrollees needing these drugs, MCOs/PBMs contracted with TennCare, and healthcare providers administering the treatments. The bill mandates single reimbursement for each treatment - either as a pharmacy benefit or medical service, but not both - to prevent duplicate payments. It applies specifically to covered HIV drugs administered in approved settings, ensuring consistent coverage under TennCare.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates TennCare MCOs/PBMs to reimburse long-acting HIV treatment drugs, ensuring patient access to critical medications under coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Prescription Drugs Primary Care

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 2548: Medical Occupations - As enacted, allows a physician assistant to delegate medication administration to a certified medical assistant; adds categories of medications to the list of medications that a certified medical assistant is authorized to administer or prepare, and makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 63; Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 2 and Chapter 1042 of the Public Acts of 2024.

SB 2548 allows physician assistants (PAs) to delegate medication administration to certified medical assistants (CMAs) under specific conditions. It expands the list of medications CMAs can administer - including vaccines, topical treatments, oral medications, and certain injectables like transdermal anesthetics - while requiring clinics to verify CMA competency for these tasks. The bill mandates that PAs must collaborate with a physician, follow approved protocols, and cannot delegate tasks requiring clinical judgment (e.g., adjusting patient care plans). This directly affects PAs, CMAs, and ambulatory clinics in Tennessee, updating their scope of practice under state law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands CMA scope to administer vaccines, oral/topical meds under PA supervision, boosting patient access to care without additional physician visits.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 2332: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, prohibits a pharmacy benefits manager from reimbursing a contracted pharmacy for a prescription drug or device or a pharmacy service in an amount that is less than the greatest of certain listed amounts and makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 56, Chapter 7 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

HB 2332 requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to reimburse contracted pharmacies for prescription drugs or services at no less than the highest of four specified amounts: the pharmacy’s actual cost, 105% of the national average drug cost (NADAC), the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC), or the amount the PBM pays itself for the same item. This directly affects independent pharmacies that contract with PBMs, ensuring they receive fairer compensation for dispensing medications. The bill establishes an appeal process for pharmacies disputing low reimbursements and mandates that PBMs pay double the owed amount if they fail to meet the required rate, with adjustments required within 14 days of a successful appeal. It also prohibits PBMs from deducting dispensing fees from reimbursement calculations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires PBMs to reimburse pharmacies at fair rates, protecting pharmacy access to medications and preventing reduced service access for patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 2621: Damages - As introduced, states that the amount of damages awarded as noneconomic damages must not exceed $1 million in a health care liability action arising from obstetric or maternity negligence resulting in the death or permanent injury of a pregnant or postpartum woman. - Amends TCA Section 29-39-102.

SB 2621 caps noneconomic damages at $1 million in medical malpractice lawsuits involving obstetric or maternity negligence that causes the death or permanent injury of a pregnant or postpartum woman. It directly affects patients, families, and healthcare providers in Tennessee by limiting compensation for non-monetary harms like pain and suffering in these specific cases. The bill amends Tennessee law to override existing damage award rules for health care liability actions under Title 29, Chapter 26. This change applies only to cases meeting the defined criteria of negligence resulting in death or permanent injury during pregnancy or postpartum care. The legislation does not affect economic damages (such as medical bills) or other types of medical malpractice claims.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareCaps non-economic damages at $1M in obstetric malpractice cases, directly limiting patient compensation for pain/suffering in healthcare liability actions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2201: Massage Therapy - As introduced, enacts the "Interstate Massage Compact." - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 63.

HB 2201 creates Tennessee's participation in the "Interstate Massage Compact," allowing licensed massage therapists to practice across participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects licensed massage therapists in Tennessee and future member states by establishing a multistate licensing pathway. Key mechanisms include forming an Interstate Massage Compact Commission to manage licensing, requiring background checks, enabling states to share disciplinary information, and prioritizing safety through standardized regulations. The compact aims to improve public access to massage therapy, enhance safety protections, prevent fraud, and support military members relocating with their families. This bill does not change Tennessee's existing massage therapy laws but adds a new cross-state licensing option.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables cross-state practice for licensed massage therapists, improving access to healthcare services without licensing barriers per bill's purpose.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2008: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, enacts the "Climate Resiliency Fund Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 5; Title 9; Title 60; Title 67 and Title 68.

SB 2008 establishes the "Climate Resiliency Fund" to finance climate adaptation projects across Tennessee. It requires fossil fuel businesses (like coal and oil operations) that existed between 1995 and 2026 to pay cost recovery charges into the fund. The fund will support concrete projects such as flood protections, infrastructure upgrades, nature-based solutions, and healthcare programs addressing climate impacts like extreme weather and heat waves. Priority funding is directed to environmental justice communities facing higher climate burdens due to income, race, or language barriers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes cost recovery charges on fossil fuel businesses to fund climate adaptation projects, creating a dedicated budget stream for essential environmental services.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires fossil fuel businesses to fund climate adaptation projects including infrastructure upgrades, aligning with clean energy infrastructure investment and reducing fossil fuel reliance.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes Climate Resiliency Fund financed by fossil fuel businesses to fund climate adaptation projects like flood protection and nature-based solutions, directly advancing environmental protection and climate resilience.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly funds healthcare programs addressing climate impacts like extreme weather and heat waves, aligning with healthcare funding indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Oil & Gas Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Environmental Justice Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 5, 2026

HB 1952: Optometry - As enacted, redefines the practice of optometry. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 8.

HB 1952 expands the scope of practice for Tennessee optometrists by allowing them to perform certain surgical procedures for eye conditions, subject to board approval and specific training. The bill permits optometrists to conduct minor surgeries like eyelid lesion removals, abscess drainage, or simple laceration repairs (e.g., excising small non-cancerous growths or repairing small eyelid cuts), but explicitly prohibits procedures such as cataract surgery, LASIK, corneal transplants, or retina operations. It requires optometrists using local anesthetics for these procedures to meet board certification standards and provide proof of training. This change directly affects licensed optometrists in Tennessee, enabling them to provide more comprehensive primary eye care within defined limits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands optometrists' scope to perform minor eye surgeries, improving patient access to eye care services without requiring ophthalmologist referrals for minor procedures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SB 1697: DNA and Genetic Testing - As enacted, directs the department of health to test for the presence of sickle cell trait in each newborn and, if the test results are positive for sickle cell trait, to notify the parent or legal guardian of the newborn tested as soon as practicable. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 5.

SB 1697 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to test every newborn for sickle cell trait starting on the bill's effective date. If a newborn tests positive for sickle cell trait, the department must notify the parent or legal guardian as soon as practicable. The bill directly affects all newborns in Tennessee born on or after the effective date and their families by adding this screening to the state's newborn health program. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 5, to establish this mandatory testing and notification process.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates newborn sickle cell trait screening and parent notification, expanding preventive public health services in Tennessee's healthcare system per TCA Title 68, Chapter 5.90% confidence

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 1944: DNA and Genetic Testing - As enacted, directs the department of health to test for the presence of sickle cell trait in each newborn and, if the test results are positive for sickle cell trait, to notify the parent or legal guardian of the newborn tested as soon as practicable. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 5.

HB 1944 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to test every newborn for sickle cell trait starting from the bill's effective date. If a newborn tests positive, the department must notify the parent or legal guardian as soon as possible. This bill directly affects all newborns in Tennessee and their families by mandating this screening and notification process. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68, Chapter 5 to establish this new requirement for newborn health screening. The bill is currently pending in committee review and has not yet been enacted.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates newborn sickle cell trait screening and parent notification via public health program, advancing preventive healthcare access and early intervention for at-risk infants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 1534: Health, Dept. of - As introduced, authorizes the commissioner to utilize Title V funds, to the extent permitted by federal law, to establish a program to provide funds to women whose pregnancies have ended in stillbirth for the purposes of offsetting burial or disposition costs of the stillborn child's remains and educational scholarships for such women; authorizes the commissioner to seek any necessary federal waiver or authorization to create such program. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 68.

HB 1534 would allow Tennessee's Commissioner of Health to use federal Title V maternal and child health funds (with federal permission) to create a program for women who experience stillbirth. The program would cover burial or disposal costs for stillborn children and provide educational scholarships to these women. It specifically amends Tennessee law to authorize this use of funds and permits the commissioner to seek necessary federal waivers. The bill directly affects women who have lost a pregnancy to stillbirth in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes use of maternal/child health funds (Title V) for stillbirth-related burial costs and educational scholarships, expanding public health support for affected women under Tennessee's Health Department.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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