Healthcare

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 849: 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.

SB 849 requires Tennessee medical and osteopathic boards to create an optional continuing education course on maternal mental health for healthcare professionals. It directly affects physicians specializing in obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry, as well as certain psychologists. The course must cover screening practices, types of maternal mental health disorders, evidence-based treatments, and when to consult a psychiatrist. Boards must update the curriculum periodically to reflect new research and accept course completion as credit toward required continuing education.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates continuing education on maternal mental health for healthcare providers, directly advancing mental health services training per bill's requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 62: 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.

HB 62 authorizes Tennessee athletic trainers to use dry needling for preventing, treating, and rehabilitating athletic injuries, directly affecting licensed athletic trainers in the state. The bill requires the Board of Athletic Trainers to establish minimum competency standards that practitioners must demonstrate to safely perform dry needling. It clarifies that this practice does not constitute acupuncture under existing law. The policy change expands athletic trainers' scope of practice with specific safety safeguards, effective March 28, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands scope of practice for licensed athletic trainers to provide dry needling for injury treatment, improving access to non-acupuncture healthcare services without restricting coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1261: Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies - As introduced, imposes requirements for health insurance issuers using artificial intelligence, algorithms, or other software for utilization review or utilization management functions. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 56 and Title 71.

SB 1261 requires Tennessee health insurance companies, including TennCare and pharmacy benefits managers, to follow strict rules when using artificial intelligence (AI) for healthcare decisions like approving treatments. It mandates that AI tools must base decisions on individual patient medical history and provider recommendations - not just group data - and cannot replace licensed doctors in determining medical necessity. Insurers must disclose AI use in their policies, regularly review AI performance, and ensure patient data is handled securely under HIPAA. The law prohibits AI from discriminating or causing harm and treats violations as unfair claims practices, allowing patients to sue for damages.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to use AI based on individual patient data, disclose AI use, and maintain doctor involvement in medical necessity decisions - protecting patient rights and access to care.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates transparency, prohibits group-data reliance, and requires individualized AI decisions in healthcare to protect patient privacy and prevent biased outcomes, aligning with consumer protection regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs Artificial Intelligence

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signed · Tennessee · House May 5, 2025

HJR 98: Memorials, Congress - Urges Congress to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to add certain COVID-19 treatments and anthrax vaccinations as pre-qualifying for care under the PACT Act. -

This resolution urges the U.S. Congress to require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include veterans who received certain COVID-19 treatments (administered under Emergency Use Authorization before full FDA approval) and anthrax vaccinations as qualifying exposures under the PACT Act. It directly affects veterans exposed to these treatments during service, potentially expanding their access to VA healthcare and benefits previously reserved for those with toxic exposures like burn pits. The resolution also calls for Congress to investigate the military's administration of these substances, including whether they were given without proper consent or approval. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change VA policy but advocates for legislative action to address veterans' health concerns.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands VA healthcare access for veterans exposed to specific treatments/vaccinations under PACT Act, qualifying them for benefits previously reserved for toxic exposure cases.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands PACT Act coverage to include veterans exposed to specific COVID-19 treatments and anthrax vaccines, increasing VA healthcare access for more veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition National Guard & Reserve Veteran Healthcare

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 890: Health Care - As enacted, revises present law relative to a patient's electronic health record and requires a health insurance entity to establish and maintain a provider access API and a prior authorization API; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 47; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 890 requires Tennessee health insurance companies to create two digital systems: one allowing healthcare providers to access patient electronic health records and another for processing prior authorization requests (like insurance approvals for treatments). It also shortens the timeline for certain health insurance actions by changing the requirement from 10 working days to 10 calendar days. This law directly affects health insurance entities, healthcare providers, and patients by improving access to medical records and streamlining authorization processes. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer APIs for EHR access and faster prior auth, reducing administrative delays to improve provider/patient access and efficiency.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates health insurers to implement provider access and prior authorization APIs, advancing digital healthcare infrastructure and data interoperability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 19, 2025

HB 1291: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, requires health insurance carriers to provide mental health coverage in parity with alcoholism and drug dependence coverage. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 33; Title 39; Title 49; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 1291 requires Tennessee health insurance carriers to cover mental health services at the same level as coverage for alcoholism and drug dependence. This means insurance plans must provide equal benefits, coverage, and reimbursement rates for mental health treatment compared to substance use disorder treatment. The bill also mandates that insurers include clear explanations of this equal coverage in plan materials. It applies to all health insurance plans issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates parity in mental health coverage with substance use disorder, expanding access to mental health services under insurance plans.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates equal mental health coverage parity with substance use disorder, expanding worker health benefits and aligning with labor protections for comprehensive workplace wellness.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 19, 2025

HB 15: TennCare - As introduced, authorizes the governor to expand medicaid eligibility solely for the purpose of providing treatment for a patient with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease in accordance with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and to negotiate with the centers for medicare and medicaid services with respect to the terms of such expansion. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

HB 15 would allow Tennessee's governor to expand Medicaid eligibility exclusively for sickle cell disease treatment, in alignment with federal law. The bill requires the governor to negotiate with federal health officials (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) on the specific terms of this expansion. This change would directly affect Tennessee residents diagnosed with sickle cell disease by potentially providing Medicaid coverage for their treatment. The expansion is strictly limited to sickle cell disease and must comply with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid eligibility for sickle cell disease treatment, improving access to healthcare coverage per federal law and requiring CMS negotiations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 18, 2026

SB 1369: Health Care - As enacted, revises law relative to the operation of acute care hospitals. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 33; Title 68; Title 71 and Chapter 985 of the Public Acts of 2024.

SB 1369 removes the requirement for acute care hospitals in Tennessee to obtain state approval (a "certificate of need") to establish or operate, effective July 1, 2028. It defines "acute care hospital" as one primarily treating patients with an average stay of 25 days or less. This change directly affects new and existing acute care hospitals by eliminating a regulatory hurdle for expansion or operation. The bill amends specific Tennessee Code sections to implement this change, while maintaining certificate of need requirements for other hospital types.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves certificate of need requirement, reducing regulatory barriers for hospital expansion to improve access and competition in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

failed · Tennessee · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 225: Chiropractors - As enacted, requires certain insurers to reimburse chiropractic physicians at the same rate as physicians for the same services. - Amends TCA Title 56, Chapter 7 and Title 63.

SB 225 requires Tennessee health insurers to reimburse chiropractic physicians at the same rate as medical doctors for identical services, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 56 and 63. It prohibits insurers from using separate payment codes or methodologies for chiropractic services compared to physician services, ensuring equal reimbursement based on nationally recognized coding systems like the CPT book. This applies to private health insurance plans but excludes TennCare, CoverKids, and government-provided insurance. The bill aims to eliminate reimbursement disparities for chiropractors offering equivalent services to medical doctors. It was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2025, but failed in committee on March 25, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires equal insurance reimbursement for chiropractors vs. physicians, expanding access to chiropractic care under private plans per bill language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 428: Opioids - As enacted, authorizes an insurer, for purposes of group insurance plans offered to state employees, to adopt or amend a state preferred drug list (PDL); requires the insurer to ensure that a non-opioid drug approved by the U.S. food and drug administration for the treatment or management of pain is not disadvantaged or discouraged with respect to coverage relative to an opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain on the PDL. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 428 requires insurers offering health insurance plans to Tennessee state employees to treat non-opioid pain medications (FDA-approved for pain treatment) equally with opioids on their preferred drug list, ensuring they are not disadvantaged in coverage or discouraged. It also mandates separate reimbursement for healthcare providers and hospitals when non-opioid pain treatments are provided to covered employees. The law applies immediately upon FDA approval of a non-opioid drug and takes effect July 1, 2025. This directly affects insurers and state employee health plans under Tennessee Code.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal coverage for FDA-approved non-opioid pain treatments vs opioids, expanding patient access to safer alternatives and reducing opioid dependency in healthcare coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Substance Abuse

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