Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 261: Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the statewide planning and policy council for the department of mental health and substance abuse services to June 30, 2029. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 33, Chapter 1.

HB 261 extends the existence of Tennessee's statewide planning and policy council for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services until June 30, 2029. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 4-29-246 and 4-29-250 to update references to this council, ensuring its continued operation. This change directly affects the mental health department by preventing the council from sunsetting (ending automatically) under previous law. The bill does not alter the council's responsibilities or funding, only its operational timeline. The extension was enacted as Public Chapter 13 in 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends mental health council's operation until 2029, preventing termination and ensuring continued policy planning for mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 420: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, prohibits an insurer, pharmacy benefits manager, or third-party administrator from changing or conditioning the terms of health plan coverage based on availability of financial or other product assistance for a prescription drug; establishes certain procedures for calculating an enrollee's contribution to an applicable cost sharing requirement. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 10; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 420 prohibits insurers, pharmacy benefits managers, and third-party administrators in Tennessee from altering health plan coverage terms - such as cost-sharing or benefit design - based on whether a patient has access to prescription drug assistance programs (like manufacturer coupons or patient aid). This directly affects health plan enrollees who use such programs to lower drug costs. The bill requires insurers to calculate cost-sharing contributions based on actual patient payments, not external assistance, and applies to plans entered into or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. It aims to prevent insurers from penalizing patients for utilizing available drug cost-saving resources.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents insurers from penalizing patients using drug assistance programs, ensuring cost-sharing reflects actual patient payments and improving access to affordable medications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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passed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 3, 2025

SB 152: Health Care - As introduced, authorizes a patient with a severe chronic disease or terminal illness to access, and a physician to recommend, investigational stem cell treatment; requires the commissioner of health to promulgate rules to, among other things, list the medical conditions that constitute a qualifying severe chronic disease or terminal illness. - Amends TCA Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 152 allows patients with severe chronic diseases or terminal illnesses to access investigational stem cell treatments (adult stem cell therapies still in clinical trials and not yet FDA-approved) after their doctors confirm other FDA-approved treatments aren't viable. It requires Tennessee’s health commissioner to create rules listing qualifying medical conditions and mandates doctors to document that all standard treatments were considered before recommending these experimental therapies. The bill also protects physicians from license penalties for following these guidelines and prohibits government interference with patient access. This directly affects patients with qualifying conditions and their treating physicians in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands patient access to investigational stem cell treatments for severe/terminal illnesses after standard FDA-approved options fail, requiring physician documentation and health commissioner rules to enable this care pathway.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 654: Health Care - As enacted, extends the termination date for the Alzheimer's and dementia respite care pilot program from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2026. - Amends TCA Title 9; Title 33; Title 52; Title 67 and Title 68.

SB 654 creates Tennessee's "Caring for Caregivers Act," establishing a pilot program to provide financial grants to family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's or dementia. The program offers up to $6,000 annually per caregiver to offset eligible expenses like home modifications, medical equipment, and respite care for family members needing help with two or more daily activities (e.g., bathing, dressing, or mobility). Caregivers must have household income below $37,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) and provide care for a relative living in a private home, not a facility. The bill extends the program's termination date from December 2025 to December 2026, with funding starting at $600,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds ($6,000/year grants) for caregiver program, increasing budget allocation for health services per 'funds essential programs' indicator.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides $6,000 annual grants to caregivers for healthcare expenses like home modifications and respite care, directly funding support for dementia patients. Extends existing pilot program.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 364: Local Education Agencies - As introduced, repeals the "Tennessee Community Schools Act"; enacts the "Tennessee Full Service Community Schools Act." - Amends TCA Title 49.

SB 364 replaces Tennessee's "Community Schools Act" with the "Tennessee Full Service Community Schools Act." It creates a new framework where local school districts (LEAs) partner with community organizations to integrate services like health care, mental health support, and family engagement into schools. The bill establishes a grant program administered by the University of Tennessee starting in 2026, requiring LEAs to form formal partnerships with community partners and demonstrate long-term sustainability to receive funding. This directly affects school districts, community organizations, and students/families by mandating coordinated access to educational, health, and social services through schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationReplaces outdated act with new framework integrating health/services via partnerships & UT grant program, enhancing student support beyond traditional education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIntegrates health care and mental health services into schools via community partnerships, expanding access to healthcare services through new grant program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 224: Athletic Trainers - As enacted, authorizes athletic trainers to use dry needling to carry out the practice of prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, disposition, treatment, or rehabilitation of athletic injuries; requires the board of athletic trainers to establish minimum competency requirements for an athletic trainer to demonstrate in order to practice dry needling. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 63.

SB 224 allows licensed athletic trainers in Tennessee to use dry needling as part of their care for athletic injuries, including prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. The bill requires the Board of Athletic Trainers to establish minimum competency standards that practitioners must meet to perform dry needling. This change directly affects athletic trainers who currently cannot use dry needling without physician supervision under existing rules. The law amends Tennessee Code Sections 63-24-101 and 63-24-109 to formalize these provisions, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands scope of practice for athletic trainers, allowing direct dry needling treatment without physician supervision, improving access to sports injury care.85% confidence

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 322: Salaries and Benefits - As enacted, grants eligible employees leave of up to six workweeks because the employee is caring for a family member with a serious health condition. - Amends TCA Section 8-50-813.

SB 322 amends Tennessee state law to grant eligible full-time state employees up to six workweeks of paid leave annually to care for a family member with a serious health condition. It directly affects Tennessee state employees who have worked full-time for at least 12 consecutive months, expanding existing leave options beyond childbirth or adoption. The bill requires 30 days' notice (or as soon as possible if less notice is available) and limits total paid leave to six workweeks within any 12-month period, which can be taken intermittently. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and aligns with federal Family and Medical Leave Act provisions for eligibility and coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareGrants paid leave for family health care, improving access to care without income loss for employees, aligning with healthcare access support indicators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands paid family leave benefits for state employees, strengthening worker protections under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 647: Public Funds and Financing - As introduced, creates the medical expense relief fund to assist the next of kin and the estate of a decedent who was enrolled in TennCare at the time of death with paying the decedent's medical debt and expenses; requires the department of human services to administer the fund and the awarding of grants. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3; Title 9 and Title 71.

SB 647 creates a $250 million medical expense relief fund to help the next of kin or estate of a person who died while enrolled in TennCare pay outstanding medical bills and related costs, including unpaid premiums and benefits. The Tennessee Department of Human Services will administer the fund, requiring applicants to submit documentation of the deceased person's medical debt and financial need. Grants may be awarded directly to families, estates, or medical providers, but must be used exclusively for the deceased's medical expenses. The fund, initially funded by a state appropriation, will carry forward any unspent balance to the next fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $250M state fund to cover medical debts for TennCare beneficiaries' estates, directly allocating public funds for a public service.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates $250M medical debt relief fund for TennCare enrollees' estates, directly funding healthcare cost resolution and reducing financial barriers for families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 1158: TennCare - As introduced, requires the director to take such actions as the director deems necessary to enable the bureau to make available to an enrollee in Part A of the Katie Beckett program the option to use the wraparound home- and community-based services funds allotted to the enrollee by means of a health reimbursement arrangement, including seeking a waiver amendment or new amendment. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

HB 1158 would allow TennCare enrollees in Part A of the Katie Beckett program (children with disabilities requiring long-term care) to use their allocated funds for home and community-based services through health reimbursement arrangements. The bill requires the TennCare director to take necessary actions, including seeking federal waiver amendments, to enable this option. It directly affects families enrolled in the Katie Beckett program who currently access care funding through traditional methods. The policy change aims to provide greater flexibility in how these funds are utilized for care services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to home/community-based services for disabled children by enabling flexible fund usage via health reimbursement arrangements under TennCare, improving patient access options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 231: Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies - As enacted, requires TACIR to conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing and potential effects of enacting the insurance coverage requirements proposed in Senate Bill 231 of the 114th General Assembly, as originally filed; requires TACIR to publish a report of its findings and recommendations. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 231 requires Tennessee health insurance plans to cover speech therapy specifically for stuttering, including both habilitative (helping learn or improve communication skills) and rehabilitative (helping restore lost skills) services. The law prohibits annual visit limits, prior authorization, restrictions based on the cause of stuttering, and excludes utilization review for these services, while mandating coverage for both in-person and telehealth options. This requirement applies to health benefit plans renewing or issuing policies on or after July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects insured individuals seeking speech therapy for stuttering and insurers offering health coverage in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for stuttering therapy without visit limits or prior authorization, expanding access to speech services per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Telehealth