Healthcare

signed · Tennessee · House May 5, 2025

HJR 100: Memorials, Government Officials - Urges the Tennessee opioid abatement council and each participating county to allocate 25 percent of approved expenditures from the opioid abatement fund to initiatives that distribute and promote overdose reversal medications. -

HJR 100 is a resolution urging Tennessee’s opioid abatement council and participating counties to allocate at least 25% of opioid settlement fund expenditures toward distributing and promoting overdose reversal medications like Narcan. It directly affects the state’s opioid abatement council and counties that joined the opioid settlement agreement. The resolution requires these entities to prioritize funding for initiatives that save lives through medication access, rather than other uses of the fund. This is a non-binding recommendation, not a new law, aimed at accelerating reductions in overdose deaths.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects 25% opioid settlement funds to distribute overdose reversal meds (Narcan), improving public health access to life-saving treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

in committee · Tennessee · House May 18, 2026

HB 658: Athletic Trainers - As enacted, expands the scope of practice for athletic trainers by authorizing them to treat conditions that limit or prevent a person's participation in certain physical activities rather than just treating injuries that limit or prevent such participation; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 24.

HB 658 expands the scope of practice for athletic trainers in Tennessee by allowing them to treat conditions that limit or prevent participation in physical activities (not just injuries), directly affecting athletes and patients seeking preventive or rehabilitative care. The bill clarifies athletic trainers are healthcare providers and authorizes specific new procedures, including blood glucose monitoring, dry needling, and intravenous fluid administration. It amends licensing requirements to align with these expanded duties, requiring board certification and specific training for these new practices. The changes apply to all licensed athletic trainers practicing under physician supervision in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands athletic trainers' scope to treat activity-limiting conditions and authorize new procedures, improving patient access to preventive/rehabilitative care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 1198: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As enacted, declares Perry County Community Hospital in Linden and Decatur County General Hospital in Parsons to be necessary providers for the purpose of critical access hospital designation eligibility in accordance with Section 1820 of the Social Security Act. - Amends TCA Title 68.

SB 1198 declares Perry County Community Hospital in Linden and Decatur County General Hospital in Parsons as "necessary providers" for critical access hospital designation under federal law (Section 1820 of the Social Security Act). This directly enables both hospitals to qualify for federal support and resources tied to critical access hospital status. The bill requires Tennessee's Department of Health and Health Facilities Commission to facilitate this federal designation process. The law aims to stabilize these rural hospitals, ensuring continued healthcare access for communities in Perry and Decatur Counties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables two hospitals to qualify for federal critical access hospital funding/support by designating them as 'necessary providers,' directly advancing their access to healthcare resources and federal programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 1382: Commerce and Insurance, Dept. of - As enacted, revises law relative to the treatment and coverage of treatment for stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer, blood cancer, metastatic blood cancer, and associated conditions; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 1382 requires Tennessee's Commerce and Insurance Commissioner to study whether insurers' online processes for step therapy exceptions (where patients must try cheaper treatments first) are easy for patients and doctors to use. The study specifically examines if insurers comply with state law without creating unnecessary barriers for requesting exceptions, particularly for conditions like advanced cancer. The commissioner must report findings and recommendations to lawmakers by December 15, 2025. This bill affects patients and healthcare providers seeking coverage for treatments that require step therapy exceptions, but it does not change coverage rules - only studies current processes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates study to ensure insurers' step therapy exception processes are accessible for advanced cancer patients, aiming to remove barriers and improve access to necessary treatments.85% confidence

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 960: Health, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the department to collaborate with an organization in this state to create or identify a continuing education program to provide healthcare professionals with information or training relative to maternal mental health disorders. - Amends TCA Title 63.

HB 960 requires Tennessee's medical, osteopathic, and psychology licensing boards to develop and offer an optional continuing education course on maternal mental health. This affects physicians specializing in obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, or psychiatry, as well as certain psychologists. The course must cover screening practices, types of maternal mental health disorders, effective treatment options (including patient involvement in care plans), and when to consult a specialist versus making a referral. Successful completion of this course counts toward required continuing education for license renewal.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mandatory maternal mental health training for healthcare professionals, improving care standards and access to specialized treatment options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 953: Education - As introduced, enacts the "School Safety and Mental Health Act." - Amends TCA Title 49.

The "School Safety and Mental Health Act" requires every public school in Tennessee to employ at least one full-time licensed school counselor. It creates a state grant program for school safety infrastructure improvements, mandating that school districts detail how funds will address safety needs identified in security assessments and support charter schools. Districts must comply with all state school safety laws to qualify for grants, and unspent funds must carry forward to future years. The law becomes effective on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates full-time counselors, funds safety infrastructure via grants, and requires compliance with safety laws to protect student well-being and support educational access.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school counselors for mental health services, directly supporting mental health care in schools as part of healthcare policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 174: Medical Occupations - As enacted, requires the board of medical examiners to register an applicant as a registered surgical assistant if the applicant maintains current credentials as a surgical assistant issued by the American Board of Surgical Assistants and satisfies other necessary requirements; removes December 31, 2019, as the deadline by which an applicant for registration as a surgical assistant must register with the board in order to be registered on the basis of certain practical experience. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 6.

SB 174 amends Tennessee law to update requirements for surgical assistants seeking board registration. It adds the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) as an accepted credentialing body alongside the National Commission for Certification of Surgical Assistants, allowing applicants to maintain current ABSA credentials. The bill also removes the December 31, 2019, deadline for applicants to register based on practical experience, making registration more flexible. This change directly affects surgical assistants in Tennessee seeking state licensure, effective March 25, 2025. The law modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 63-6-219(b)(1) and (b)(3).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves registration deadline and adds ABSA credentialing, easing practice access for surgical assistants, improving healthcare provider availability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 150: TennCare - As introduced, requires the bureau to reimburse a public or private air ambulance service that bills for transports and has a base of operations in this state that provides a covered emergency or nonemergency service to a TennCare recipient at a rate not less than 67.5 percent of the federal medicare program's allowable charge for participating providers. - Amends TCA Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 150 requires Tennessee's TennCare program to reimburse air ambulance services operating in the state at 67.5% of the federal Medicare rate for covered emergency or nonemergency transports to TennCare recipients. This applies to both public and private air ambulance providers with a Tennessee base of operations that bill for these services. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 71-5-165 and related provisions to establish this specific reimbursement rate. It directly affects air ambulance providers serving TennCare patients within Tennessee. The policy change takes effect upon becoming law for transports occurring on or after that date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires TennCare to reimburse air ambulances at 67.5% of Medicare rate, ensuring continued access to emergency transport services for Medicaid patients.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 638: TennCare - As introduced, prohibits a healthcare provider who participates in the TennCare or CoverKids programs from refusing to provide healthcare services to an enrollee based solely upon the enrollee’s refusal to obtain a vaccine or immunization; prohibits the bureau from reimbursing a healthcare provider in violation of such prohibition; requires the director to adopt rules. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 638 prohibits healthcare providers participating in Tennessee's TennCare or CoverKids programs from denying services to enrollees solely because they refuse vaccines or immunizations. The bill requires the TennCare bureau to withhold reimbursement from providers who violate this rule and mandates the director to create implementing rules, including administrative review processes. Exceptions apply to oncology and organ transplant specialists. This law directly affects providers serving TennCare/CoverKids members and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits denial of care based on vaccine refusal, protects patient access to TennCare services, and mandates reimbursement compliance - directly advancing patient rights in healthcare access.95% confidence

Track

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 4, 2025

HB 1157: Drugs, Prescription - As enacted, enacts the "Restore Trust in Public Health Messaging Act." - Amends TCA Title 53 and Title 68.

HB 1157, the "Restore Trust in Public Health Messaging Act," requires Tennessee's Department of Health, local health departments, and state executive branch to ensure all public communications about FDA-regulated products (like medications) accurately reflect the FDA-approved or FDA-authorized labels. It prohibits promoting information that conflicts with these labels, including general product categories unless universally true or properly qualified. The law mandates an internal compliance review by July 2025, annual reporting to state officials starting in 2026, and a complaint process for violations with potential penalties. This directly affects state health agencies' public messaging about medical products, aiming to align communications with federal FDA standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates accurate public health messaging for FDA-approved drugs, preventing misleading claims that could endanger patients, aligning with protecting public health integrity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health