Healthcare (Women's Health)

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 551: Health Care - As introduced, urges the human rights commission to study problems of discrimination against healthcare providers in this state because of their decision to decline to participate in a healthcare service on the basis of religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 20; Title 29; Title 39; Title 49; Title 50; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 551 urges Tennessee's Human Rights Commission to study whether healthcare providers face discrimination for declining services based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. The bill requires the Commission to include its findings and recommendations in annual reports to the legislature. It directly affects healthcare providers (such as doctors or nurses) who may refuse specific services like abortion or contraception due to personal beliefs. The bill does not change existing laws but mandates a formal study of potential discrimination against such providers.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill enables healthcare providers to refuse services (e.g., abortion/contraception) based on beliefs, directly limiting patient access to care per bill's focus on provider refusal.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 28, 2025

SB 1283: Public Health - As enacted, adds as a disease for which a laboratory must test during a standard serological test of a pregnant woman hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) with automatic reflex to HCV RNA if anti-HCV is reactive, and makes certain other changes to the process of conducting required pregnancy serological tests. - Amends TCA Section 68-5-602.

This bill adds hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) testing to the standard blood screening required for all pregnant women in Tennessee during initial prenatal visits and between weeks 28-32 of pregnancy. If the anti-HCV test is reactive, labs must automatically conduct a follow-up HCV RNA test without requiring additional orders. It directly affects all pregnant women receiving routine prenatal care in Tennessee, expanding the required screening panel to include hepatitis C alongside existing tests for syphilis, rubella, and hepatitis B. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, and align hepatitis C testing protocols with existing disease reporting requirements for maternal health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mandatory prenatal screening to include hepatitis C antibody testing, enabling early detection and treatment, strengthening public health prevention efforts for pregnant women.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Women's Health

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 28, 2025

HB 111: Public Health - As enacted, adds as a disease for which a laboratory must test during a standard serological test of a pregnant woman hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) with automatic reflex to HCV RNA if anti-HCV is reactive, and makes certain other changes to the process of conducting required pregnancy serological tests. - Amends TCA Section 68-5-602.

HB 111 amends Tennessee's maternal health screening law to require standard blood tests during pregnancy to include hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) testing, with automatic follow-up testing for HCV RNA if the antibody test is reactive. This directly affects all pregnant women in Tennessee receiving routine prenatal care, as it adds hepatitis C screening to the existing mandatory tests for syphilis, rubella, and hepatitis B. The key provision mandates that laboratories performing these standard serological tests must automatically conduct the HCV RNA test when anti-HCV is positive, streamlining the detection of active hepatitis C infection. The bill aims to improve early identification of hepatitis C in pregnant individuals to support timely treatment and maternal health outcomes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds mandatory hepatitis C screening during pregnancy, expanding maternal health prevention measures to improve early detection and treatment of a critical public health concern.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Women's Health

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failed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SB 1010: Birth Control - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Contraceptive Freedom Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 1010, the "Tennessee Contraceptive Freedom Act," establishes a fundamental right for all Tennesseans to access contraception without discrimination. It requires healthcare providers to either provide contraceptive services or refer patients to providers who do, while prohibiting restrictions that single out contraceptive care or impede access. The bill explicitly defines contraception as distinct from abortion and emphasizes equal access regardless of race, gender, income, or other factors, particularly protecting historically marginalized groups. It applies to all healthcare providers, health insurance carriers, and public health agencies across Tennessee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes right to contraception access, mandates provider referrals, prohibits discriminatory restrictions - directly improves patient access to healthcare services95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Public Health Women's Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 867: Women - As introduced, creates a pilot program to be administered by the bureau of TennCare to provide pregnant TennCare recipients improved maternal health care through remote patient monitoring for maternal hypertension and maternal diabetes. - Amends TCA Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 867 creates a pilot program for pregnant TennCare recipients with hypertension or diabetes, using remote patient monitoring to improve maternal health outcomes. The program requires technology vendors to provide devices that track blood pressure, glucose, and other health data, deliver devices directly to participants, and train them on use - ensuring functionality without broadband access. A nursing team and healthcare provider must monitor data, provide health coaching, and establish emergency protocols. The pilot aims to serve at least 300 participants across selected counties and must launch within 180 days of vendor contracts. The bill is currently pending review by the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates remote monitoring pilot for pregnant TennCare recipients with hypertension/diabetes to improve maternal health outcomes, directly advancing healthcare access and quality for vulnerable patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth Women's Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 898: Women - As introduced, creates a pilot program to be administered by the bureau of TennCare to provide pregnant TennCare recipients improved maternal health care through remote patient monitoring for maternal hypertension and maternal diabetes. - Amends TCA Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates remote monitoring pilot for maternal hypertension/diabetes, expanding access to care for TennCare recipients through real-time health tracking and provider support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth Women's Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 575: Health, Dept. of - As enacted, requires all hospitals and birthing centers to provide information on post-birth warning signs, including symptoms and resources, to a mother and, if possible, to the mother's caregiver or at least one of the mother's family members prior to discharge following a birth; requires the department to provide all hospitals and birthing centers with information on post-birth warning signs, including symptoms and resources, and to have the information available on the department's website. - Amends TCA Title 68.

SB 575 requires all Tennessee hospitals and birthing centers offering labor and delivery services to provide new mothers (and, if possible, a caregiver or family member) with clear information about post-birth warning signs - such as symptoms to watch for and local resources - before discharge. The Tennessee Department of Health must also supply this information to all facilities and make it publicly available on its website. This law directly affects healthcare providers in maternal care and ensures new mothers and their support networks receive standardized, accessible guidance on postpartum health concerns. It revises state law to improve maternal health communication without changing medical standards or treatment protocols.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospitals to provide post-birth warning signs information to mothers, improving patient education and safety in maternal care, aligning with healthcare support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Jan 15, 2025

SB 25: Children - As introduced, clarifies that a child's parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian may access and review all health and medical records of the child, including those records related to treatments available to unemancipated minors without parental consent; allows an employee of a local education agency to provide bandages, gauze, or ice packs for the treatment of minor cuts, scrapes, bumps, and bruises. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 49; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 25 clarifies that parents, legal guardians, or custodians can access all health and medical records of their unemancipated children, including records from treatments provided without parental consent (such as certain reproductive health services). It also allows school staff to provide basic first aid - like bandages, gauze, or ice packs - for minor cuts, scrapes, or bumps without parental permission. The bill directly affects parents, schools, healthcare providers, and minors by standardizing record access and expanding school staff’s authority for minor injuries. These changes update existing Tennessee law to ensure consistent access to health information and streamline school health responses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies parental access to minors' health records including sensitive treatments, protecting family involvement in healthcare decisions per patient rights indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2025

SB 1011: Abortion - As introduced, creates an exception to the offense of criminal abortion if the person who performed or attempted to perform the abortion was a licensed physician and the patient's pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 15, Part 2.

SB 1011 would create a legal exception to Tennessee's criminal abortion law for cases where a licensed physician performs an abortion and the pregnancy resulted from specific defined crimes: aggravated rape, rape, rape of a child, especially aggravated rape, especially aggravated rape of a child, or incest. This exception directly affects patients who become pregnant through these crimes and the licensed physicians who provide abortions in those circumstances. The bill amends Tennessee Code Section 39-15-213 to add this exception, allowing such abortions without criminal penalty under state law. The policy change specifically limits the exception to the listed offenses as defined in other Tennessee statutes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates legal exception for physician-performed abortions in rape/incest cases, enabling access to reproductive healthcare services for specific victims.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 4, 2025

HB 26: Abortion - As introduced, enacts the "Unborn Child Protection Act of 2025." - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 39, Chapter 15, Part 2; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 26, the "Unborn Child Protection Act of 2025," prohibits mailing or delivering abortion-inducing drugs into Tennessee. It defines these drugs as medications (like mifepristone and misoprostol) used to terminate a pregnancy, excluding them when used for other medical purposes (such as treating stomach ulcers). The bill imposes strict liability, requiring anyone who causes an unborn child's death through such mailings to pay $5 million in damages without needing to prove fault. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting drug manufacturers, distributors, and anyone mailing abortion-related medications into the state.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts access to abortion drugs (a healthcare service) by prohibiting mailing/delivery and imposing strict liability, limiting patient access to reproductive healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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