HB 515 requires Tennessee school districts and public charter schools to include state-published information about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes when sharing health-related updates with parents of K-12 students. Starting August 1, 2025, schools must provide this specific diabetes information, which covers descriptions, risk factors, warning signs, screening processes, and treatment recommendations. The Tennessee Department of Education, working with the Department of Health, must publish this free resource on its website by July 31, 2025, for schools to access and distribute. This bill directly affects school districts, charter schools, and parents of K-12 students by standardizing diabetes health information in school communications.
HB 289 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to submit a report by January 1, 2026, to health committees in both legislative chambers. The report must include specific data on anesthesiologists practicing in the state, residency program participants, and graduates from anesthesiology programs, plus recommendations to increase their numbers. This bill directly affects the Department of Health (which must produce the report) and informs decisions about the state's healthcare workforce. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but was withdrawn on February 6, 2025, and is no longer active.
HB 782 creates a new pilot PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly) program in one Tennessee grand division without an existing PACE program as of 2024, while allowing current PACE providers in counties with a 2020 census population of 366,200-366,300 to expand into contiguous counties meeting specific population thresholds (12,700-12,800, 32,800-32,875, or 108,600-108,700). It requires applicants to submit service area maps, market analyses proving unmet need, and CMS compliance certifications, and mandates annual reports to legislative leaders. The bill directly affects elderly Tennesseans eligible for PACE care (meeting federal CMS criteria) and PACE providers seeking to expand services. It became effective May 21, 2025, after Governor approval.
SB 584 requires Tennessee's Commissioner of Health to establish and maintain a statewide stockpile of essential medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies for use during natural disasters, public health emergencies, or mass casualty events. The bill directs the Department of Health to collaborate with emergency management officials to plan supply needs - prioritizing rural and medically underserved areas - and develop distribution guidelines for healthcare providers, facilities, and state disaster organizations. It allows the state to contract with private vendors to manage a "virtually sequestered buffer stock" to prevent expiration and ensure rapid access during crises. This policy aims to strengthen emergency preparedness by creating a coordinated system for distributing critical health resources.
HB 869 requires Tennessee health insurance companies to create two new digital systems: a "provider access API" to let doctors quickly retrieve patient records electronically, and a "prior authorization API" to speed up insurance approvals for treatments. It directly affects health insurance entities by mandating these technical standards under revised state laws in Titles 8, 47, 56, 63, and 68. The bill also shortens a deadline for insurers from 10 working days to 10 calendar days for certain patient record requests. This law aims to improve efficiency in healthcare coordination by standardizing electronic access to records and prior authorization processes.
HB 827 requires employers to continue health insurance coverage for employees who are terminated while pregnant and covered under an employer-sponsored health plan. Employers must keep paying their share of premiums until the pregnancy ends, and employees must provide written confirmation of the pregnancy's end within 30 days. This applies to employers with health benefit plans starting July 1, 2025, directly affecting pregnant employees terminated during pregnancy. The law prevents employers from stopping coverage or insurers from dropping it without the employee's written confirmation.
SB 282, the "Individualized Investigational Treatment Act," creates a legal framework for patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to access personalized medical treatments (like gene therapies or vaccines tailored to their genetic profile) when standard FDA-approved options have been exhausted. It directly affects eligible patients (who must meet specific criteria including physician attestation and written informed consent) and eligible facilities (those complying with federal human subjects protections). Key provisions require detailed written consent covering all treatment options, risks, and financial liability, while clarifying that insurers, health plans, and providers are **not obligated** to cover these treatments or related costs (TCA §§ 63-6-1304(a)-(d)). The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and explicitly states that heirs cannot be held liable for unpaid treatment debts if a patient dies during treatment (TCA § 63-6-1305).
SB 1304 extends Tennessee's Access Tennessee health insurance program, which provides coverage for low-income residents, from ending on June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 56-7-2916 to update the program's expiration date. This change ensures continued eligibility for current participants and future enrollees who qualify under the program's existing income and coverage criteria. The extension applies to all individuals currently enrolled or who meet the program's requirements before 2030.
SB 1031, the "Restore Trust in Public Health Messaging Act," requires Tennessee's health departments and state agencies to align all public communications about FDA-approved drugs and medical products with the FDA's official labels. It directly affects the Tennessee Department of Health, local health departments, and state executive branch employees who share information about medications or health products. The bill prohibits promoting claims that conflict with FDA labels, mandates internal reviews by July 2025, and requires annual compliance reports to the legislature. Violations trigger investigations by the comptroller, with potential penalties for noncompliance. This law aims to ensure state health messaging is scientifically accurate and consistent with federal standards.
SB 1381 authorizes Tennessee local governments (cities, counties, or metropolitan areas) to regulate sober living homes - alcohol- and drug-free residences where adults recovering from substance abuse live together - to ensure compliance with federal Fair Housing and ADA laws. Key provisions require such homes to be at least 1,000 feet from schools/daycares, allow local zoning rules for location/operation, and mandate clinical referrals from licensed providers before admission. The bill directly affects sober living home operators, local governments creating regulations, and residents seeking recovery housing. It updates state housing laws to clarify that these homes are not treatment facilities and must avoid discriminatory practices under federal law.
