Healthcare (Insurance)

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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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1866: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, creates the "Regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Health Care Act." - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 56 and Title 71.

HB 1866, the "Regulate Artificial Intelligence in Health Care Act," requires health insurance companies, pharmacy benefits managers, and state health programs like TennCare to have a licensed healthcare professional review any AI-driven decision to deny, delay, or modify medical care based on medical necessity. The bill prohibits using AI alone for such decisions without this human review, which must consider the patient’s medical history, the provider’s recommendation, and individual clinical circumstances. Violations would be treated as unfair claims practices, allowing affected patients to sue for actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, for most purposes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires licensed healthcare review for AI-driven care denials/delays, protecting patient rights and ensuring human oversight in medical necessity decisions.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates human review for AI-driven healthcare decisions, protecting patients from automated errors - aligns with regulating tech for consumer protection in healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 1664: Health Care - As enacted, prohibits certain healthcare providers from knowingly or willfully asking a minor, or a health insurance issuer, managed care organization, or entity providing reimbursement for healthcare services from requiring or requesting a healthcare provider or facility to ask, certain gender-related questions for any purpose; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 33; Title 47; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

Tennessee's SB 1664 prohibits healthcare providers from asking minors questions about gender identity, gender confusion, or whether they feel "normal in their body" without a parent being physically present, fully informed, and providing written consent. The bill specifically bans questions like "Do you identify as a gender different from your sex?" unless directly related to diagnosing or treating a current medical or psychological condition. It also prevents health insurers from requiring such questions for payment or penalizing providers who don't ask them. The law applies to all healthcare providers and facilities serving minors under 18, with exceptions for emergencies, mandated child abuse reporting, and minors who are emancipated or parents themselves.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts healthcare providers from discussing gender identity with minors without parental consent, limiting access to gender-affirming care and patient-provider communication for sensitive health issues.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 1848: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, prohibits an insurer from denying, conditioning the issuance or effectiveness of, or discriminating in the pricing of a medicare supplement policy if an applicant meets certain listed requirements, including a non-age eligible person who submits an application for enrollment in a medicare supplement policy with a different insurer within 60 days of such person's birthday and makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 56.

HB 1848 prohibits Tennessee insurers from denying or charging higher rates for Medicare supplement policies based on health status, specifically for "non-age eligible persons" under 65 who qualify for Medicare due to disability or end-stage renal disease. It requires insurers to offer these policies at the weighted average premium rate (calculated across all Medicare-eligible age groups) without waiting periods or preexisting condition exclusions. The law applies to applicants who submit applications within 60 days of their birthday when switching insurers, or during specified enrollment periods before January 2027. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, affecting insurers and this specific group of Medicare beneficiaries.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from denying/charging higher rates for Medicare supplements based on health status, ensuring access for disabled/ESRD patients without preexisting condition exclusions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1993: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, prohibits a health insurance issuer or managed health insurance issuer from reimbursing for testing services a medical laboratory that is eligible to participate as an in-network participating provider at a rate less than the CMS clinical laboratory fee schedule for medical labs in this state; permits a managed health insurance issuer to require such lab to meet the performance metrics required of in-network labs. - Amends TCA Title 56, Chapter 7, Part 23.

HB 1993 prohibits health insurance issuers and managed health insurance issuers from reimbursing non-network medical laboratories for testing services at rates below the federal CMS clinical laboratory fee schedule in Tennessee. It requires these insurers to pay eligible labs at the CMS rate while allowing them to mandate that non-network labs meet the same performance metrics required of in-network laboratories. This bill directly affects health insurance companies, medical laboratories (particularly non-network providers), and patients who select labs for testing under insurance plans, as it standardizes reimbursement rates and ties lab performance to payment. The policy changes take effect July 1, 2026, and amend Tennessee Code Annotated Title 56, Chapter 7, Part 23.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates minimum CMS reimbursement for medical labs, preventing underpayment and ensuring access to testing services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1775: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, requires that a health plan, or an insurer offering a health plan, include coverage for clinical genetic testing for an inherited gene mutation for an individual with a personal or family history of cancer that is recommended by a healthcare professional, and evidence-based cancer imaging for an individual with an increased risk of cancer as recommended by National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 56 and Title 71.

HB 1775 requires Tennessee health plans and insurers to cover two specific cancer-related services without out-of-pocket costs: genetic testing for inherited cancer risks (for individuals with personal or family cancer history, as recommended by a doctor) and evidence-based cancer imaging (for high-risk individuals per National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines). This applies to all health plans issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects insurers by mandating coverage and patients with cancer risk factors by removing cost barriers to these screenings. It does not alter existing health savings account rules but ensures these preventive services are fully covered under the plan.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer coverage for cancer genetic testing and imaging without out-of-pocket costs, expanding access to preventive care for high-risk patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 2081: Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies - As enacted, expands the prohibition, from stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer or metastatic blood cancer to any cancer, against a health benefit plan that provides coverage for cancer requiring the use of a step therapy protocol before the health benefit plan provides coverage for an approved prescription drug to an enrollee who has received a diagnosis of cancer. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 2081 expands a Tennessee law that prohibits health insurance plans from requiring step therapy (trying less expensive treatments first) before covering approved cancer drugs. It removes the current restriction that only applied to "stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer or metastatic blood cancer," instead applying the prohibition to **all cancer diagnoses**. This means cancer patients in Tennessee with insurance plans covering cancer treatment cannot be forced through step therapy protocols before accessing approved drugs. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, for new or renewed insurance policies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands prohibition on step therapy for all cancer patients, ensuring faster access to approved drugs without prior authorization barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1626: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, requires that a health plan, or an insurer offering a health plan, include coverage for clinical genetic testing for an inherited gene mutation for an individual with a personal or family history of cancer that is recommended by a healthcare professional, and evidence-based cancer imaging for an individual with an increased risk of cancer as recommended by National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 56 and Title 71.

SB 1626 requires Tennessee health insurance plans to cover clinical genetic testing for inherited cancer risks (for individuals with personal or family cancer history) and evidence-based cancer imaging (for high-risk individuals), as recommended by healthcare providers or National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. This applies to all health insurers in Tennessee, directly affecting patients seeking these specific cancer prevention and early detection services. The law mandates that this coverage must be provided without cost-sharing (no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance). The requirement takes effect for plans issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for cancer genetic testing and imaging, expanding patient access to preventive care as recommended by medical guidelines.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 1722: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, prohibits a health insurance issuer or managed health insurance issuer from reimbursing for testing services a medical laboratory that is eligible to participate as an in-network participating provider at a rate less than the CMS clinical laboratory fee schedule for medical labs in this state; permits a managed health insurance issuer to require such lab to meet the performance metrics required of in-network labs. - Amends TCA Title 56, Chapter 7, Part 23.

SB 1722 requires Tennessee health insurance companies to pay non-network medical laboratories (that are eligible to join an insurance network) at least the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clinical laboratory fee schedule rate for covered lab tests. It also allows insurers to set the same performance standards for these non-network labs as they do for in-network providers. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026, and applies to health insurance and managed health insurance issuers in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers pay non-network labs at CMS clinical lab fee schedule rate, ensuring fair reimbursement and supporting lab access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Medicare

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