Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 911: Psychologists - As introduced, creates prescribing authority for certain psychologists if certain conditions and prerequisites are met. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 911 would allow licensed doctoral-level psychologists in Tennessee to prescribe certain medications (like those for mental health conditions) after meeting specific requirements. It directly affects psychologists who complete a post-doctoral master's program in psychopharmacology (including 450 patient contact hours), pass a national exam, and complete a 1-year supervised fellowship treating 100+ patients. The bill creates two certification levels: an "initial certificate" requiring physician supervision and an "advanced certificate" for independent prescribing, both administered by the state psychology board. This bill is currently under review by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and has not yet become law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health access by allowing certified psychologists to prescribe medications, improving patient access to care without physician referral for mental health conditions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 39: Local Education Agencies - As introduced, enacts the "Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act," which requires, instead of authorizes, LEAs and public charter schools to provide feminine hygiene products at no charge in all women's and girls' bathrooms, in all locker rooms, and with school nurses at each public senior high school for student use only. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 49 and Title 67.

HB 39, the "Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act," requires all Tennessee public school districts and charter schools serving senior high schools (grades 9-12) to provide free feminine hygiene products (such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups) in all women's/girls' bathrooms, locker rooms, and with school nurses. These products must be available at no cost exclusively for student use, and the law takes effect July 1, 2025. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate this access, replacing prior language that only authorized (but did not require) such provisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates free menstrual products in schools, removing barriers to attendance/access for female students, directly enhancing educational access as defined in topic description.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires free menstrual hygiene products in schools, improving access to essential health services for students as part of public health initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 959: Medical Occupations - As enacted, makes various changes relative to marriage and family therapist licensure. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 63.

HB 959 updates Tennessee's licensure rules for marriage and family therapists. It allows students in accredited programs to use titles like "marital therapy intern" while supervised, and clarifies that associate license holders must use "associate licensed marriage and family therapist" or "AMFT" (not implying full licensure). The bill creates specific pathways for associate licensure, requiring a 9-month exam deadline and supervised practice under approved supervisors, while defining "approved supervisor" to include AAMFT-approved professionals. These changes directly affect therapy students, trainees, and practitioners seeking licensure in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill clarifies licensure pathways for marriage and family therapists, enabling more mental health professionals to practice under supervision, directly supporting mental health services within healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 289: Workers Compensation - As enacted, creates a presumption that the diagnosis of a law enforcement officer or emergency medical responder with post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of responding to certain incidents was incurred in the line of duty for purposes of workers' compensation coverage. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 51 and Title 50, Chapter 6.

SB 289 creates a legal presumption that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosed in law enforcement officers and emergency medical responders (EMTs) is work-related if it results from responding to specific incidents, making it automatically eligible for workers' compensation coverage. This directly affects those first responders by streamlining their claims process without requiring separate proof of work connection. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 7-51-206 and 50-6-101 to replace "firefighter" with "law enforcement officer or emergency medical responder" throughout the relevant workers' compensation provisions. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to claims for PTSD incurred while performing official duties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates automatic workers' comp for law enforcement PTSD, supporting officer welfare and retention in criminal justice roles by streamlining claims.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates presumption for PTSD coverage under workers' comp, removing barriers to mental health treatment access for first responders per bill's intent to streamline claims.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates presumption for PTSD workers' comp coverage for first responders, removing proof burden and strengthening benefit access per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Workers' Compensation

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 881: Insurance, Health, Accident - As enacted, removes the aggregate penalty limits for violations of law concerning pharmacy benefits managers; provides that a pharmacy benefits manager regulated under law relative to pharmacy benefits managers is subject to the insurance laws relative to timely reimbursement of health insurance claims and its requirements for timing of payments to pharmacists; provides that a violation of the prompt pay standards is governed by the penalties set out in insurance laws relative to timely reimbursement of health insurance claims. - Amends TCA Title 56.

SB 881 removes limits on penalties for pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) that fail to pay pharmacies promptly under Tennessee law. It requires PBMs to pay "clean claims" (complete, error-free claims) within 30 days for paper submissions and 14 days for electronic submissions, with interest accruing for late payments. The bill establishes tiered penalties: failing to pay 95% of clean claims triggers up to $10,000 in fines, 85% triggers $10,000-$100,000, and 60% triggers $100,000-$200,000. This directly affects PBMs (like those managing prescription drug benefits) and pharmacies that rely on timely payments from them.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates timely payments to pharmacies with penalties for delays, protecting pharmacists and ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 299: Boards and Commissions - As enacted, changes the qualifications for membership on the medical cannabis commission to include a patient caregiver and a subject matter expert with knowledge of how cannabis is cultivated, processed, shipped, distributed, or prescribed for medical use; specifies that the recommendations made by the commission to the general assembly may include policy recommendations. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 68, Chapter 7.

SB 299 amends Tennessee's medical cannabis commission membership requirements to include a patient caregiver (or former caregiver of a deceased patient) and a subject matter expert in cannabis cultivation, processing, distribution, or medical prescription. The bill also updates the commission's reporting duties to explicitly allow it to provide policy recommendations to the legislature alongside its findings. These changes, effective April 15, 2025, directly affect how the commission is structured and the scope of its advice to lawmakers on medical cannabis policy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds patient caregiver and cannabis expert to commission, enabling policy recommendations for medical cannabis healthcare access and program improvements.85% confidence

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1290: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes permanent the exclusion of narcotic testing equipment used to determine whether a controlled substance contains a synthetic opioid, unless the narcotic testing equipment is possessed for purposes of the commission of a drug offense, from the definition of drug paraphernalia; removes the July 1, 2025, repeal date for that exclusion. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-402.

SB 1290 permanently removes a temporary expiration date for a law that excludes certain testing equipment from being classified as drug paraphernalia. Specifically, it makes permanent the exclusion of equipment used to test for synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) unless the equipment is used to commit a drug crime. This change directly affects harm reduction organizations, public health workers, and law enforcement using such tools for legitimate testing purposes. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-402 by deleting the prior repeal date of July 1, 2025. The law is now permanent and took effect April 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill permanently removes restrictions on synthetic opioid testing equipment for harm reduction, supporting public health initiatives without criminalizing legitimate use. Aligns with criminal justice reform by reducing unnecessary criminalization ...90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves legal barrier for public health workers to use synthetic opioid testing equipment, enabling harm reduction programs that protect community health and prevent overdoses.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Public Health Substance Abuse

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 1390: TennCare - As enacted, directs the director to establish an additional PACE program as a pilot in one of the two grand divisions where a PACE program did not exist in 2024; permits a current PACE program in a county with a specific population to expand into contiguous counties having specifically listed populations. - Amends TCA Title 71.

SB 1390 expands Tennessee's TennCare Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) by creating a new pilot program in a grand division without an existing PACE service area as of 2024. It also allows an existing PACE program in a specific county (population 366,200-366,300) to expand into contiguous counties meeting defined population thresholds (12,700-12,800; 32,800-32,875; or 108,600-108,700). The bill requires applicants to submit service area plans, market analyses, and proof of unmet need, while directing TennCare to coordinate referrals and monitor program quality. This law directly affects elderly Tennesseans eligible for nursing facility-level care who require comprehensive, integrated services through PACE programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands TennCare PACE program access to new regions and allows existing program expansion, increasing elderly healthcare coverage and access to comprehensive care services.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 619: Health Care - As enacted, allows a healthcare provider to petition a relevant board after completing a peer assistance or treatment program contract to remove information from the public-facing licensure verification website regarding the adverse action and the order by the relevant board after five years from the completion date of that program or contract indicated in such order; authorizes the division of health related boards to promulgate rules to effectuate such petition process. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 619 allows licensed healthcare providers in Tennessee who completed a peer assistance or treatment program following a disciplinary action (like a consent order) to petition their licensing board to remove public records about that action after 10 years. The bill requires the relevant board to review and approve such petitions before removing the information from public licensing websites. It also authorizes Tennessee's Division of Health Related Boards to create rules for implementing this process, following standard administrative procedures. This change directly affects healthcare providers seeking to have past disciplinary records removed from public view after meeting the 10-year waiting period.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows healthcare providers to petition for removal of public disciplinary records after 10 years, reducing stigma and supporting provider rehabilitation in healthcare system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1391: Health, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to establish and administer a grant program to reimburse local education agencies, public charter schools, private schools, and medical first responders for the costs of anti-choking devices purchased by the local education agency, public charter school, private school, or medical first responder on or after July 1, 2025. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 68.

SB 1391 requires the Tennessee Department of Health to create a grant program reimbursing school districts, public charter schools, private schools, and emergency medical responders for purchasing anti-choking devices (like choking prevention tools) starting July 1, 2025. The program covers one device per school cafeteria or emergency vehicle, with a total funding cap of $500,000. It mandates annual reports to the legislature on grant usage and expires on July 1, 2028. The bill does not allocate funds itself - actual spending depends on future legislative appropriations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationReimburses schools for safety equipment, providing direct financial support for school infrastructure and student safety under education funding.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds anti-choking devices for schools/emergency responders via grant program, advancing emergency medical preparedness in healthcare context.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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