Healthcare

died · Tennessee · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 1070: Human Resources, Department of - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Health SNAP Act", which requires the department to submit a request for a waiver from the United States department of agriculture's food and nutrition service to seek authorization to prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for the purchase of candy and soft drinks. - Amends TCA Title 71.

HB 1070, introduced as the "Tennessee Health SNAP Act," proposes requiring the Tennessee Department of Human Resources to seek a federal waiver from the USDA to prohibit SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits from being used to buy candy and soft drinks. The bill would mandate that any waiver request include public health justification, a plan for retailer system updates, recipient education on healthy alternatives, and tracking mechanisms for spending and health outcomes. If approved, the restriction would apply to SNAP users in Tennessee, excluding milk-based drinks and beverages with over 50% juice. The bill was filed on February 5, 2025, but withdrawn the next day and never advanced.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates SNAP restrictions on unhealthy items with public health justification, aligning with healthcare policy goals to improve population health outcomes through nutrition programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 641: Public Funds and Financing - As enacted, enacts the "Savannah Grace Copeland Act." - Amends TCA Title 9; Title 12; Title 37; Title 39 and Title 49.

HB 641, the "Savannah Grace Copeland Act," requires Tennessee to increase funding for child advocacy centers whenever state funding for child protective services grows. Specifically, it mandates that 75% of any increase in child protective services funding must be allocated to child advocacy center contracts starting July 2026. The bill sets specific base funding amounts: $127,855.98 for full centers and $85,000 per forensic interviewer. These centers, which serve over 32,000 children annually with services like forensic interviews and mental health support, directly benefit from this policy change. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, but requires separate annual appropriations to implement the funding adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 75% of increased child protective services funding be allocated to child advocacy centers, directly advancing public service funding under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates 75% of increased child protective services funding for child advocacy centers serving 32k+ children annually, which provide medical/mental health evaluations per TCA Title 37 (healthcare services).92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1054: Medical Occupations - As introduced, limits a foreign training license of limited duration to an internationally licensed physician who meets certain listed criteria. - Amends TCA Title 63.

SB 1054 creates a temporary "foreign training license" for internationally trained physicians in Tennessee who meet specific criteria. To qualify, applicants must hold an AMA-approved medical degree (or board-approved equivalent), complete 3 years of postgraduate training in an approved country (or have 7 years of practice), maintain good standing in their home country's licensing system, and secure employment with a Tennessee healthcare provider. The license is tied to that specific employer and requires 2 years of active practice in Tennessee before transitioning to a full license. This bill directly affects internationally licensed doctors seeking to practice in Tennessee without U.S. medical training.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates temporary license for foreign-trained physicians, expanding healthcare workforce and improving patient access in Tennessee.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 1319: Health Care - As enacted, extends the CoverKids program from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030. - Amends TCA Section 71-3-1113.

HB 1319 extends Tennessee's CoverKids program, which provides health insurance for children, by changing its expiration date from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 71-3-1113 to update this deadline. The bill directly affects low-income children and families enrolled in CoverKids, ensuring continued eligibility for coverage through 2030. This is a straightforward extension of an existing program, with no changes to eligibility criteria or funding structure. The bill became law on April 8, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends CoverKids program, ensuring continued health insurance coverage for low-income children through 2030 without eligibility or funding changes.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1053: TennCare - As introduced, requires the director to take such actions as the director deems necessary to enable the bureau to make available to an enrollee in Part A of the Katie Beckett program the option to use the wraparound home- and community-based services funds allotted to the enrollee by means of a health reimbursement arrangement, including seeking a waiver amendment or new amendment. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

SB 1053 would allow TennCare enrollees in Part A of the Katie Beckett program (children with disabilities requiring long-term care) to access their allocated community-based care funds through health reimbursement arrangements instead of traditional service delivery. The bill requires the TennCare director to take necessary actions, including seeking federal waiver amendments, to enable this option. It directly affects families enrolled in the Katie Beckett program by expanding how they can use their state-funded care resources. The change modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 71-5-164 to implement this flexibility in fund utilization. This is a procedural policy change focused on administrative access to existing funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to community-based care funds for disabled children via flexible reimbursement arrangements, improving healthcare options under TennCare without restricting funds or services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid

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passed both · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 587: Health, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to establish and administer a pilot program for the placement of hygiene vending machines that dispense feminine hygiene products to students at no cost to the student in women's restrooms or locker rooms in each eligible school selected to participate in the program. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 68.

SB 587 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to create a pilot program placing free feminine hygiene product vending machines (dispensing tampons and sanitary napkins) in women's restrooms or locker rooms at eligible public schools. The program targets schools with Title I designation serving grades 5-12 that have high percentages of economically disadvantaged students, prioritizing two schools per grand division. Participating schools receive the machines and initial supplies at no cost, with the department sourcing products through partnerships and donations. The initiative applies starting the 2025-2026 school year and aims to provide accessible hygiene products to students without financial burden.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides free feminine hygiene products in schools to support student access and well-being, addressing a barrier to attendance for disadvantaged students in Title I schools.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes free access to feminine hygiene products in schools via public health program, improving student health access and aligning with public health initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Student Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SB 1256: Drugs, Prescription - As introduced, requires the department of finance and administration, in collaboration with the department of health and the bureau of TennCare, to apply for federal approval to import prescription drugs from Canada. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 33; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 1256 requires Tennessee's Department of Finance and Administration, working with the Department of Health and TennCare, to apply for federal approval by January 1, 2026, to import prescription drugs from Canada. The bill mandates that the application must prove imported drugs meet federal/state safety standards, comply with supply chain laws, list cost-saving drugs, and estimate annual savings versus importation costs. If approved, the state would implement a program focused on the most cost-effective drugs for TennCare (state Medicaid) and residents. This bill does not directly change drug prices or guarantee savings but sets a process for potential future cost reductions through federal approval. It affects state Medicaid programs and residents relying on prescription medications.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates state application to import Canadian prescription drugs to reduce costs, directly improving patient access and affordability of medications per healthcare topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 995: Alcoholic Beverages - As enacted, expands the immunity from prosecution when seeking medical assistance for a person experiencing, or believed to be experiencing, an overdose to include alcohol-related offenses; clarifies that overdose includes both drugs and alcohol. - Amends TCA Title 63.

HB 995 expands Tennessee's law protecting individuals who seek medical help for an overdose to include alcohol-related incidents. It amends state code by replacing "drug overdose" with "overdose" and "drug violation" with "drug or alcohol violation" in immunity provisions. This means people calling for help during an alcohol or drug overdose can no longer face prosecution for minor alcohol or drug offenses related to the incident. The law directly affects individuals experiencing overdoses and those assisting them by seeking emergency care. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves legal barriers to seeking medical help during alcohol/drug overdoses, directly improving access to emergency healthcare services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 789: Medical Occupations - As enacted, makes various changes relative to marriage and family therapist licensure. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 63.

SB 789 amends Tennessee's licensure rules for marriage and family therapists to clarify student and trainee roles, update supervisor qualifications, and revise associate license requirements. It allows students in accredited programs to use titles like "marital therapy intern" under supervision, expands the definition of "approved supervisor" to include more licensed mental health professionals, and requires associate license holders to pass a licensing exam within nine months while practicing under supervision. The bill also specifies that associate license holders must display their status as "associate licensed marriage and family therapist" (AMFT) and cannot claim full licensure. These changes directly affect therapy students, trainees, and practitioners seeking licensure in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies licensure for mental health therapists, enabling more practitioners and improving access to mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 817: Drugs, Prescription - As enacted, authorizes a healthcare practitioner to prescribe and a pharmacist to dispense a prescribed, bronchodilator rescue inhaler to an authorized entity to be administered to a person believed to be experiencing asthma symptoms or respiratory distress in an emergency situation, under a standing protocol from the healthcare practitioner; encourages schools in LEAs and public charter schools to keep bronchodilator rescue inhalers to be administered to students believed to be having asthma symptoms or in respiratory distress in an emergency situation. - Amends TCA Title 49; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 817 allows healthcare providers to prescribe and pharmacists to dispense asthma rescue inhalers to authorized entities (like schools, childcare centers, sports venues, and restaurants) under a pre-approved plan. Schools in Tennessee are encouraged to keep these inhalers in at least two accessible, secure locations (e.g., offices or nurse stations) for immediate use during asthma emergencies. The bill protects trained staff and schools from liability when administering the inhaler in good faith during emergencies, as long as they follow the healthcare provider’s standing protocol. It specifically amends Tennessee law to create these protocols for both general authorized entities and schools.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables schools to stock emergency asthma inhalers, improving immediate access to care during respiratory emergencies, directly advancing public health access and safety protocols.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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