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).
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.
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.
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.
HB 754 requires gender clinics receiving state funding and insurance providers covering gender transition procedures to also offer and cover detransition services (medical or mental health care to reverse or manage effects of transition). It applies specifically to state-funded clinics and insurers, mandating they report detailed statistics on gender transition procedures to the Tennessee Department of Health. The reporting includes patient demographics, procedure types, medications, and diagnoses - while excluding personally identifiable health information. Data must be submitted monthly and compiled into an annual public report starting in 2025. The bill does not restrict access to gender transition care but adds transparency and service parity requirements.
HB 1169 requires Tennessee's Council on Children's Mental Health to submit annual reports starting June 30, 2026, detailing the statewide mental health system for children. The reports must cover current services (including state/federal programs), gaps in care, and recommendations for better coordination between agencies. The council must gather input from relevant departments (mental health, education, health, etc.) to create a comprehensive overview. These reports will be shared with the governor, legislative leaders, and agency heads. The bill, effective March 28, 2025, updates existing law to ensure regular oversight of children's mental health services.
HB 511 requires healthcare providers, clinics, facilities, and other entities that contract with health insurance companies for patient care reimbursement to notify those insurers "as soon as practicable" if they experience a cyber-attack. This applies to all Tennessee entities billing insurers for healthcare services, directly affecting providers and insurers. The key provision mandates timely notification to help insurers protect patient data and manage claims during incidents. The bill amends Tennessee insurance and health codes (Titles 33, 56, 63, 68, and 71) to establish this requirement.
SB 190 requires employers to continue providing health insurance coverage under an employer-sponsored plan to employees terminated while pregnant, until the pregnancy ends. It directly affects pregnant employees covered by such plans who lose their jobs and employers offering those plans. Key provisions mandate employers to keep paying their share of premiums and prevent insurers from dropping coverage without written proof the pregnancy ended, while requiring employees to notify employers in writing within 30 days after pregnancy concludes. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 1393 requires Tennessee's governor to apply for a federal waiver within 180 days of the bill's effective date to expand TennCare coverage to low-income residents earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level. This would directly affect Tennesseans currently ineligible for Medicaid under existing income limits, potentially providing medical assistance to thousands. The bill amends state law to mandate this waiver application process, with coverage taking effect immediately upon federal approval. The legislation focuses on procedural changes to access federal Medicaid funding, not on altering current eligibility rules.
HB 44 allows students with prescribed rescue seizure medication (like emergency seizure drugs) to possess and self-administer it at school or school events. It requires three specific authorizations: a parent/guardian written statement, a healthcare provider's written details about the medication, and a liability waiver signed by parents. The medication must stay in its original sealed package with pharmacy label intact, and schools must keep these documents on file. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and clarifies that schools aren't liable for standard use (except in cases of willful misconduct).
