Healthcare (Medical Licensing)

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1688: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As introduced, enacts the "The Frank J. Lake III Act"; requires a long-term care ombudsman for an assisted-care living facility to notify all residents of such facility if the facility contacts the ombudsman; directs the health facilities commission to post a certain specified notice on the commission's website if an assisted-care living facility is placed on probation; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 11.

HB 1688, "The Frank J. Lake III Act," requires assisted-care living facilities in Tennessee to notify all residents (or their guardians/representatives) if they contact the long-term care ombudsman (Section 4). It also mandates the Health Facilities Commission to post specific notices on its website when a facility faces disciplinary action, including probation or a 30-day fact-finding period (Sections 2-3). Additionally, facilities must provide written disclosure of their licensure status and disciplinary history to residents before admission (Section 5). These changes, effective July 1, 2026, directly affect residents, facilities, and the commission by increasing transparency around facility oversight.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires facilities to notify residents of ombudsman contact and license status, protecting resident rights and transparency in care facilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medical Licensing

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 1526: Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to June 30, 2034. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 6, Part 4.

SB 1526 extends the expiration date of Tennessee's participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to June 30, 2034. This bill directly affects licensed physicians and healthcare providers who seek to practice across state lines through the compact. The key provision amends Tennessee law to set a new termination date (June 30, 2034) for the compact, which currently allows streamlined licensure across participating states. The bill does not change the compact's operational rules, only its duration.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, enabling streamlined cross-state practice for physicians, improving healthcare provider access and patient care continuity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 1496: Health Care - As introduced, adds clinical informatics, lifestyle medicine, and medical virtualist to the list of words or abbreviations that a person may attach to a name to indicate or induce another person to believe that the person is engaged in the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 6.

SB 1496 amends Tennessee law to clarify that healthcare professionals cannot use the terms "Clinical informatics," "Lifestyle medicine," or "Medical virtualist" after their name to suggest they are licensed physicians or osteopathic doctors. The bill adds these specific terms to the existing list of titles that mislead the public about medical licensure. It directly affects healthcare providers who might use these terms in their practice without proper authorization. This change updates the definition of "practice of medicine" under Tennessee Code Title 63, ensuring these terms cannot be misused to induce public belief in unlicensed medical practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents misleading use of medical titles to protect patients from false licensure claims, aligning with patient rights protection in healthcare policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 16, 2026

HB 1584: Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to June 30, 2034. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 6, Part 4.

HB 1584 extends Tennessee's participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact until June 30, 2034, preventing its automatic expiration. This bill directly affects medical professionals seeking to practice across state lines and healthcare systems serving patients in multiple states. The key provision amends Tennessee law to update the compact's expiration date in Title 4 and Title 63 of the Tennessee Code, ensuring continued multi-state licensure for doctors. This change allows physicians to maintain active licenses in Tennessee while practicing in other participating states without additional state-specific requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, enabling doctors to practice across state lines and improving patient access to healthcare providers.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 1966: Health Care - As introduced, requires the board of medical examiners, board of nursing, and board of osteopathic examination to initiate a criminal background check for each applicant for a renewal of licensure. - Amends TCA Title 38 and Title 63.

SB 1966 requires Tennessee's medical, nursing, and osteopathic licensing boards to conduct criminal background checks on health care professionals when they renew their licenses. This applies specifically to doctors, nurses, and osteopathic physicians seeking license renewal. The background checks must use a state-approved method, and applicants must pay all associated costs. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, for all renewal applications submitted on or after that date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires criminal background checks for healthcare license renewals to protect patient safety and ensure public health standards in medical practice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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signed · Tennessee · House May 26, 2026

HB 2029: Dieticians and Nutritionists - As enacted, enacts the "Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Act." - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 63.

HB 2029 revises Tennessee's licensure requirements for dietitians and nutritionists, creating a new "Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Act" in Title 63. It requires licensure for medical nutrition therapy (like managing diabetes or kidney disease) but allows unlicensed providers to offer general nutrition advice (e.g., healthy eating tips for the public). The bill expands the governing board from five to nine members and defines key terms, such as "complex" cases needing licensed care versus "non-complex" situations. This directly affects dietitians, nutritionists, and healthcare consumers seeking these services in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires licensure for medical nutrition therapy (e.g., diabetes management), ensuring qualified care for complex health cases, aligning with patient safety and access standards in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 1936: Disability and Aging, Dept. Of - As introduced, creates a licensure process for prescribed pediatric extended care programs; requires TennCare to submit a waiver to the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services seeking approval to provide coverage and benefits for those who receive services from a prescribed pediatric extended care program. - Amends TCA Title 52; Title 56 and Title 71.

SB 1936 creates a new licensing system for facilities providing nonresidential care to medically dependent children under 20 who require technology-based nursing care (e.g., ventilators or feeding tubes). These "prescribed pediatric extended care centers" must serve four or more unrelated minors and provide care for no more than 12 hours per day. The bill requires TennCare (Tennessee’s Medicaid program) to seek federal approval to cover services from these licensed centers. It defines key terms like "medically dependent minor" and sets requirements for facility licensing, including background checks and facility zoning compliance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates licensure for pediatric care centers and mandates TennCare to seek federal approval for Medicaid coverage expansion, directly advancing healthcare access for medically dependent children.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Medical Licensing Tags Licensing

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 1753: Health Care - As enacted, adds clinical informatics, lifestyle medicine, and medical virtualist to the list of words or abbreviations that a person may attach to a name to indicate or induce another person to believe that the person is engaged in the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 6 and Title 63, Chapter 9.

SB 1753 amends Tennessee law to prohibit using the terms "clinical informatics," "lifestyle medicine," or "medical virtualist" after a person’s name to mislead others into believing they are licensed to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine. The bill directly affects healthcare professionals who might use these titles without proper medical licensure. It adds these specific terms to the existing list of prohibited designations under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 63-6-204(m)(1) and related chapters. The legislation aims to prevent public confusion about who is legally authorized to provide medical care. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee after passing initial committee stages.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents misleading use of healthcare titles to protect patients from unlicensed practitioners, aligning with patient rights protection under healthcare policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 2076: Optometry - As enacted, redefines the practice of optometry. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 8.

SB 2076 expands the scope of practice for Tennessee optometrists by allowing them to perform specific minor surgical procedures under local anesthesia, such as removing small eyelid lesions or treating minor lacerations. It directly affects licensed optometrists in Tennessee who meet certification requirements for administering local anesthetics. The bill permits procedures like excising non-malignant skin lesions under 5mm or draining eyelid abscesses, but explicitly prohibits more complex surgeries like cataract removal, LASIK, or retinal procedures. These changes are codified in amendments to Tennessee Code Annotated § 63-8-102, with all new surgical authority subject to board approval and strict limitations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands optometrist scope to perform minor surgical procedures, increasing patient access to eye care services without specialist referrals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 23, 2026

HB 2044: Medical Occupations - As enacted, allows a physician assistant to delegate medication administration to a certified medical assistant; adds categories of medications to the list of medications that a certified medical assistant is authorized to administer or prepare, and makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 63; Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 2 and Chapter 1042 of the Public Acts of 2024.

HB 2044 expands the scope of practice for certified medical assistants (CMAs) in Tennessee by allowing physician assistants (PAs) to delegate medication administration tasks to them. The bill specifically adds 15 medication categories to what CMAs can administer, including vaccines, oral/sublingual medications, topical treatments, inhalers, and certain anesthetic agents (like transdermal patches), while prohibiting delegation of tasks requiring clinical judgment. It requires ambulatory clinics to train and verify CMAs' competency for medication administration, updates certification requirements to include additional certifying bodies, and clarifies that PAs must work under protocols with collaborating physicians. The changes directly affect CMAs, PAs, and outpatient clinics, aiming to clarify delegation authority under existing medical practice laws.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands certified medical assistant scope to administer 15 new medication categories under PA delegation, improving patient access to care in ambulatory settings by increasing provider capacity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing