Healthcare

signed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SJR 565: Memorials, Recognition - Endometriosis Awareness Month, March 2026 -

SJR 565 is a resolution designating March 2026 as "Endometriosis Awareness Month" in Tennessee. It does not create new laws or policies but aims to promote public and healthcare education about endometriosis, a chronic condition affecting approximately 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. The resolution highlights key issues like delayed diagnosis (averaging 10 years), symptoms including pelvic pain and infertility, and the need for greater awareness to improve early detection. This symbolic measure directly affects Tennessee residents by encouraging community engagement and education efforts during March 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePromotes endometriosis awareness and education to improve early detection, aligning with healthcare awareness goals for chronic conditions.85% confidence

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Jan 22, 2026

SB 1806: Healthcare Liability - As introduced, removes the three-year statute of repose for a healthcare liability action based on an injury that was not discovered when the negligent act or injury occurred so that the action may be brought within one year from the date of such discovery. - Amends TCA Title 28 and Title 29.

SB 1806 amends Tennessee law to remove a three-year deadline (statute of repose) for filing healthcare liability claims when an injury wasn't discovered at the time of the negligent act. Instead, it allows such claims to be filed within one year of when the injury was discovered. This change directly affects patients who later discover medical negligence, such as delayed diagnosis of a surgical error or misdiagnosis. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 29-26-116(a) and related provisions in Titles 28 and 29. The policy change clarifies the timeframe for filing these specific medical malpractice claims.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves statute of repose to protect patients' rights by allowing claims within 1 year of discovering negligence, expanding legal recourse for delayed diagnoses/misdiagnoses.90% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 1844: Children - As enacted, revises various provisions governing surrendering custody of unwanted infants. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 1, Part 1 and Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 2.

HB 1844 expands safe surrender options for newborns in Tennessee by adding 24-hour ambulance stations to the list of facilities where parents can legally leave infants without legal consequences. The bill amends Tennessee Code (Sections 68-11-255) to explicitly include ambulance stations staffed 24/7 by licensed emergency medical providers, alongside existing options like hospitals and fire departments. It also updates language to require facilities to have "staff scheduled continuously on a 24-hour basis" rather than simply "being staffed." This change directly affects parents seeking to voluntarily surrender newborns, providing additional accessible, safe locations for this process.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to emergency medical care for newborns by adding 24/7 ambulance stations (staffed by medical professionals) to safe surrender facilities, ensuring infants reach healthcare providers promptly.90% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2045: Public Health - As introduced, requires healthcare provider regulatory authorities to report quarterly to the department of health the number and type of disciplinary actions taken against a healthcare provider for knowingly performing or offering to perform on a minor, or administering or offering to administer to a minor, a prohibited medical procedure. - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68, Chapter 33.

SB 2045 requires healthcare regulatory authorities in Tennessee to report quarterly to the Department of Health the number and type of disciplinary actions taken against providers who knowingly perform or offer prohibited medical procedures on minors. This applies specifically to disciplinary actions under Tennessee Code Annotated, Titles 63 and 68, Chapter 33. The bill mandates that these reports include details about violations involving minors and prohibited procedures, enhancing transparency for the Department of Health. It does not change the definition of prohibited procedures but focuses on requiring regular reporting of disciplinary outcomes. The bill directly affects healthcare providers who violate these provisions and the regulatory bodies overseeing their licensing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates reporting of disciplinary actions for prohibited procedures on minors, enhancing transparency and accountability in healthcare provider oversight for minor health protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 1947: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As introduced, requires a blood bank to comply with a physician's order for an autologous blood donation or directed blood donation for a specific patient; requires a hospital to allow a patient who is scheduled for a medical procedure to provide an autologous blood donation or directed blood donation upon order of a physician. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 32.

SB 1947 requires blood banks to follow a physician's order for a patient's own blood donation (autologous) or a donation designated for a specific patient (directed). It also mandates hospitals to permit such donations for scheduled medical procedures when ordered by a physician, unless medically unsafe. Both blood banks and hospitals may charge reasonable administrative fees but must still comply with all federal and state blood safety, testing, and compatibility requirements. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting patients, blood banks, and hospitals in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates blood banks/hospitals to comply with physician orders for patient-specific blood donations, improving access to personalized blood services during medical procedures while maintaining safety standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 2060: State Employees - As introduced, requires certain government employers to provide job-protected unpaid leave for a qualifying medical emergency to employees that meet certain criteria. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 49 and Title 50.

SB 2060 requires counties with populations under 800,000 and non-metropolitan municipalities to provide unpaid, job-protected leave for certain medical emergencies to eligible employees starting January 1, 2027. It applies to county and municipal workers who have completed 11 months/3 weeks of service, meet federal FMLA eligibility, and have no other available leave options for the emergency. The bill defines "qualifying medical emergencies" as birth, stillbirth, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or the employee’s own serious health condition. It does not apply to counties over 800,000 population or those with metropolitan government structures. This policy change mandates local government employers to establish leave policies aligning with federal FMLA standards for covered employees.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides job-protected unpaid leave for medical emergencies, enabling employees to access healthcare without job loss, aligning with improved patient access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires job-protected unpaid leave for medical emergencies, expanding worker benefits and protecting employment during leave for eligible state employees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Public Employees

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 1753: Health Care - As enacted, adds clinical informatics, lifestyle medicine, and medical virtualist to the list of words or abbreviations that a person may attach to a name to indicate or induce another person to believe that the person is engaged in the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 6 and Title 63, Chapter 9.

SB 1753 amends Tennessee law to prohibit using the terms "clinical informatics," "lifestyle medicine," or "medical virtualist" after a person’s name to mislead others into believing they are licensed to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine. The bill directly affects healthcare professionals who might use these titles without proper medical licensure. It adds these specific terms to the existing list of prohibited designations under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 63-6-204(m)(1) and related chapters. The legislation aims to prevent public confusion about who is legally authorized to provide medical care. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee after passing initial committee stages.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents misleading use of healthcare titles to protect patients from unlicensed practitioners, aligning with patient rights protection under healthcare policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 2076: Optometry - As enacted, redefines the practice of optometry. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 8.

SB 2076 expands the scope of practice for Tennessee optometrists by allowing them to perform specific minor surgical procedures under local anesthesia, such as removing small eyelid lesions or treating minor lacerations. It directly affects licensed optometrists in Tennessee who meet certification requirements for administering local anesthetics. The bill permits procedures like excising non-malignant skin lesions under 5mm or draining eyelid abscesses, but explicitly prohibits more complex surgeries like cataract removal, LASIK, or retinal procedures. These changes are codified in amendments to Tennessee Code Annotated § 63-8-102, with all new surgical authority subject to board approval and strict limitations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands optometrist scope to perform minor surgical procedures, increasing patient access to eye care services without specialist referrals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 1852: TennCare - As introduced, enacts the "TennCare Buy-In Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 10 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

SB 1852, the "TennCare Buy-In Act," creates a new health coverage option for Tennesseans aged 18 to 64 who are not eligible for Medicare or other TennCare programs. Eligible individuals must meet income requirements (based on federal poverty level), pay a monthly premium that increases with income, and not be incarcerated or enrolled in other TennCare categories. The program uses Tennessee's existing TennCare managed care networks to provide comprehensive health benefits, excluding non-emergency transportation, with premiums due monthly and failure to pay risking coverage termination and a three-month re-enrollment lockout. Enrollment requires an application through online, mail, or in-person channels, with eligibility determined within 60 days and annual renewal required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates new health coverage option for 18-64 uninsured Tennesseans using existing TennCare networks, expanding access to comprehensive benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 1646: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, requires health benefit plans entered into, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, to provide coverage for services related to acquired brain injury; requires the commissioner of commerce and insurance to promulgate rules to provide a process for an expedited appeal of an adverse determination related to such coverage. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56 and Title 71.

HB 1646 requires Tennessee health insurance plans to cover specific treatments for acquired brain injury (ABI) starting January 1, 2027. It mandates coverage for 15 evidence-based therapies - including cognitive rehabilitation, neurobehavioral therapy, community reintegration services, and vision therapy - without lifetime limits or unreasonable annual caps on sessions. The bill also directs the state insurance commissioner to create rules for an expedited appeal process if insurers deny coverage for these ABI-related services. This affects health insurers offering plans in Tennessee and directly benefits individuals with ABI who require these specialized treatments.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for 15 ABI therapies without caps and creates expedited appeal process, expanding patient access to critical care services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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