SB 185 establishes minimum (100%) and maximum (120%) reimbursement rates for rural hospitals providing routine inpatient services to TennCare enrollees. It directly affects rural hospitals defined as those with 49 or fewer beds located in non-urban census areas. The bill requires these rates to be based on each hospital's current Medicare reimbursement rates for the federal fiscal year, rather than a fixed formula. The legislation is pending review by the Senate Finance Committee and has not yet become law.
SB 1198 declares Perry County Community Hospital in Linden and Decatur County General Hospital in Parsons as "necessary providers" for critical access hospital designation under federal law (Section 1820 of the Social Security Act). This directly enables both hospitals to qualify for federal support and resources tied to critical access hospital status. The bill requires Tennessee's Department of Health and Health Facilities Commission to facilitate this federal designation process. The law aims to stabilize these rural hospitals, ensuring continued healthcare access for communities in Perry and Decatur Counties.
SB 1369 removes the requirement for acute care hospitals in Tennessee to obtain state approval (a "certificate of need") to establish or operate, effective July 1, 2028. It defines "acute care hospital" as one primarily treating patients with an average stay of 25 days or less. This change directly affects new and existing acute care hospitals by eliminating a regulatory hurdle for expansion or operation. The bill amends specific Tennessee Code sections to implement this change, while maintaining certificate of need requirements for other hospital types.
SB 241 requires inpatient mental health facilities in Tennessee to notify the court that ordered a patient's involuntary commitment when the patient becomes eligible for discharge. The court can then hold a hearing within 21 days to decide whether to release the patient or return them to the hospital based on the facility's recommendation. This bill directly affects patients under involuntary commitment, mental health facilities, and the courts handling these cases. The law, set to take effect July 1, 2025, modifies existing procedures in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33, and Title 52.
SB 9 removes existing restrictions that prevented hospitals and certain healthcare facilities from directly employing radiologists, pathologists, anesthesiologists, and emergency physicians. The bill amends Tennessee law (specifically Titles 47, 63, and 68) to delete provisions that previously barred such direct employment or limited it to specific arrangements. This change allows hospitals to hire these specialists directly or through third-party agreements, without requiring them to maintain prior employment structures. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 173 sets new minimum (100%) and maximum (120%) reimbursement rates for rural hospitals providing services to TennCare patients, directly affecting rural hospitals with 49 or fewer beds located outside urbanized areas. The bill requires these rates to be calculated based on each hospital's current federal Medicare reimbursement rates. It amends Tennessee Code to define "rural hospital" and mandates that TennCare's reimbursement levels align with Medicare rates for routine inpatient care. The director may seek federal waivers to implement this without expanding Medicaid eligibility.
HB 843 declares Perry County Community Hospital in Linden and Decatur County General Hospital in Parsons as "necessary providers" of healthcare services for federal critical access hospital (CAH) designation eligibility under Section 1820 of the Social Security Act. This enables both hospitals to qualify for federal CAH status, which provides crucial financial support and resources to sustain operations in rural areas. The bill directly affects these two specific hospitals, ensuring they can access federal benefits to continue serving vulnerable rural communities in Perry and Decatur counties. It requires the Tennessee Department of Health and Health Facilities Commission to facilitate the federal designation process.
HB 206 modifies Tennessee's involuntary mental health commitment process. It requires hospitals to notify the committing court when an involuntarily committed patient becomes eligible for discharge, including the basis for that determination and any outpatient treatment plan. The court can then hold a hearing within 21 days to decide whether to release the patient or return them to the hospital, based on the hospital's recommendation. This change affects patients under involuntary commitment, courts, hospitals, and designated family members or legal representatives who receive notification. The bill creates a presumption that the hospital's discharge determination is correct unless challenged.
HB 1123 increases the threshold for medical bills presumed necessary and reasonable in civil lawsuits from $4,000 to $25,000 when itemized bills are attached to the complaint as exhibits. This directly affects plaintiffs in medical malpractice or injury cases who can now have higher medical costs automatically accepted as valid without additional proof. The key mechanism requires plaintiffs to submit itemized bills with their complaint, shifting the burden of proof to defendants for amounts exceeding $25,000. The bill amends specific Tennessee codes and takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 970, titled the "Tennessee Healthcare Quality and Access Act of 2025," modifies Tennessee's certificate of need (CON) requirements for healthcare facilities. It requires state approval before new construction, bed increases (especially in nursing homes), bed relocations, or facility moves, with exemptions allowed if 95% of patients remain in the same zip codes and access for underserved groups isn’t reduced. The bill mandates public notice via newspaper publication for proposed projects and establishes a process for simultaneous review of competing applications. It directly affects hospitals, nursing homes, and healthcare providers seeking to expand, relocate, or change services in Tennessee.
