Healthcare (Hospitals)

died · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 155: Death - As enacted, removes the limitation that a death must have been anticipated for a registered nurse to make the actual determination and pronouncement of death if a deceased was a patient or resident at a nursing home, hospital, or assisted-care living facility. - Amends TCA Title 68.

HB 155 amends Tennessee law to allow registered nurses to pronounce death for patients or residents in nursing homes, hospitals, or assisted-care facilities without needing to confirm the death was "anticipated." The bill removes this prior requirement and instead requires the attending physician's written agreement to sign the death certificate, which must be present at the time of death. This change directly affects registered nurses working in healthcare facilities by expanding their authority to formally declare death. The law took effect upon enactment (April 8, 2025), streamlining the death certification process for healthcare providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves unnecessary restriction on nurses' authority to pronounce death in healthcare facilities, improving procedural efficiency without impacting coverage or funding.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Long-Term Care

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 185: TennCare - As introduced, establishes TennCare minimum and maximum reimbursement rate levels for rural hospitals and requires that the reimbursement rate is based on the rural hospital's current federal fiscal year. - Amends TCA Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesSets minimum/maximum reimbursement rates for rural hospitals under TennCare, ensuring stable state funding for essential healthcare services through fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes minimum reimbursement rates (100%) for rural hospitals to ensure stable funding, maintaining healthcare access in underserved areas by tying rates to Medicare benchmarks.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 1198: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As enacted, declares Perry County Community Hospital in Linden and Decatur County General Hospital in Parsons to be necessary providers for the purpose of critical access hospital designation eligibility in accordance with Section 1820 of the Social Security Act. - Amends TCA Title 68.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables two hospitals to qualify for federal critical access hospital funding/support by designating them as 'necessary providers,' directly advancing their access to healthcare resources and federal programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 18, 2026

SB 1369: Health Care - As enacted, revises law relative to the operation of acute care hospitals. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 33; Title 68; Title 71 and Chapter 985 of the Public Acts of 2024.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves certificate of need requirement, reducing regulatory barriers for hospital expansion to improve access and competition in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 577: TennCare - As enacted, makes revisions regarding determining when the annual coverage assessment is implemented and imposed; sets limits on the expenditures for directed payments to hospitals in certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

SB 577 amends Tennessee's TennCare program by shortening the time frame for implementing the annual coverage assessment from seven days to five days. It also establishes limits on hospital payments under specific circumstances, directly affecting TennCare administrators and participating hospitals. The bill changes the timing requirement in Tennessee Code Annotated Section 71-5-2005(d)(2)(D) and became effective April 3, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesSets limits on hospital expenditures under TennCare, restricting government spending as a fiscal management measure.85% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill imposes limits on hospital payments under TennCare, restricting program expenditures and reducing funding for healthcare services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2025

SB 241: Mental Illness - As introduced, requires the chief officer of an inpatient mental health treatment resource to notify the committing court if a patient who was involuntarily committed for mental health treatment becomes eligible for discharge; permits the court to hold a hearing to determine whether to order the person's return to the hospital under the original commitment or order the person's release from involuntary commitment in accordance with the recommendations of the chief officer. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 52.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires court review for involuntary mental health discharge, protecting patient rights and ensuring due process within the justice system.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires court review for involuntary mental health discharge, ensuring patient rights and proper care transitions per facility recommendations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Hospitals

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 9: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As introduced, removes the restriction on the direct employment of radiologists, pathologists, anesthesiologists, and emergency physicians by hospitals and certain healthcare facilities. - Amends TCA Title 47; Title 63 and Title 68.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves barriers preventing hospitals from directly employing specialists (radiologists, pathologists, etc.), improving access to critical care services by enabling direct hiring.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 173: TennCare - As introduced, establishes TennCare minimum and maximum reimbursement rate levels for rural hospitals and requires that the reimbursement rate is based on the rural hospital's current federal fiscal year. - Amends TCA Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates minimum (100%) reimbursement rates for rural hospitals in TennCare, ensuring stable state funding for essential healthcare services and directly managing government healthcare expenditure.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSets minimum (100%) and maximum (120%) TennCare reimbursement rates for rural hospitals based on Medicare, ensuring adequate funding for rural healthcare access and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Medicare

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 843: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As enacted, declares Perry County Community Hospital in Linden and Decatur County General Hospital in Parsons to be necessary providers for the purpose of critical access hospital designation eligibility in accordance with Section 1820 of the Social Security Act. - Amends TCA Title 68.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables two rural hospitals to qualify for federal CAH funding, securing essential financial support to maintain healthcare services in underserved areas per Social Security Act provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 206: Mental Illness - As introduced, requires the chief officer of an inpatient mental health treatment resource to notify the committing court if a patient who was involuntarily committed for mental health treatment becomes eligible for discharge; permits the court to hold a hearing to determine whether to order the person's return to the hospital under the original commitment or order the person's release from involuntary commitment in accordance with the recommendations of the chief officer. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 52.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires courts to review discharge eligibility for involuntarily committed patients, ensuring patient rights and informed decisions in mental health care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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