HB 1074 removes two notification requirements related to prior authorization for healthcare services in Tennessee. It eliminates the obligation for healthcare providers to inform patients when communicating with insurers about missing information for prior authorization requests, and it removes the requirement for utilization review organizations to notify patients when providers fail to submit needed information within seven days. The bill directly affects patients, healthcare providers, and insurance entities by changing communication protocols during the prior authorization process. These changes amend Tennessee Code Sections 63-1-171(b) and 56-6-705(a), effective upon becoming law (Public Chapter 125, enacted April 8, 2025).
HB 1239 clarifies that only physicians licensed in Tennessee may prescribe buprenorphine for FDA-approved uses in opioid recovery or medication-assisted treatment. It also establishes new requirements for non-Tennessee-licensed healthcare providers (such as those working in correctional facilities) to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder: they must hold a federal DEA registration, be employed by or contract with a correctional facility or jail, and have clinical protocols for medication-assisted treatment. The bill revises existing law to limit prescribing authority while creating specific pathways for correctional healthcare providers. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 26, the "Unborn Child Protection Act of 2025," prohibits mailing or delivering abortion-inducing drugs into Tennessee. It defines these drugs as medications (like mifepristone and misoprostol) used to terminate a pregnancy, excluding them when used for other medical purposes (such as treating stomach ulcers). The bill imposes strict liability, requiring anyone who causes an unborn child's death through such mailings to pay $5 million in damages without needing to prove fault. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting drug manufacturers, distributors, and anyone mailing abortion-related medications into the state.
SB 432 amends Tennessee law to extend the timeframe healthcare providers must provide patient medical records from 10 to 20 working days after a written request from the patient or their authorized representative. This change directly affects patients seeking access to their own medical records and their designated representatives. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 63-2-101(a)(1) and related provisions under Titles 63 and 68, which govern healthcare provider obligations. The key provision replaces "ten (10)" working days with "twenty (20)" working days in the existing legal requirement.
SB 440 clarifies that standalone dental and vision insurance plans (known as "excepted benefits") are not required to cover specific medical treatments, services, or conditions unless state law explicitly mandates it. This change directly affects health insurance plans offering these stand-alone benefits, removing an implied obligation to cover certain medical needs under those plans. The law applies to all new or renewed insurance policies issued on or after July 1, 2025, ensuring clarity for insurers and policyholders. It does not alter existing coverage requirements for standard health insurance plans.
HB 1044, now Public Chapter 266, enacts Tennessee's "Medical Ethics Defense Act" to protect healthcare providers' rights to refuse care based on conscience. It prohibits discrimination against providers who decline to participate in specific procedures (like certain reproductive or end-of-life care) that conflict with their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs, as defined in the law. The bill also shields providers from retaliation for reporting violations of these protections or disclosing concerns about patient safety. It explicitly excludes federal laws like EMTALA and religious institutions' employment decisions from its scope.
SB 194, the "Unborn Child Protection Act of 2025," bans the mailing or delivery of abortion-inducing drugs into Tennessee. It defines "abortion-inducing drugs" as medications intended to terminate a pregnancy (like mifepristone or misoprostol used for that purpose), excluding drugs like misoprostol prescribed for stomach ulcers. The bill creates strict civil liability, requiring anyone who mails/delivers such drugs into Tennessee and causes an unborn child's death to pay $5 million in damages. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting drug distributors, pharmacies, and medical providers handling these medications.
HB 1241 defines two medical scenarios where a physician performing an abortion is not considered to commit criminal abortion: (1) when preventing maternal death or a "serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" (e.g., preeclampsia, but excluding mental health conditions), and (2) when addressing a "lethal fetal anomaly" (a condition diagnosed before 24 weeks that is incompatible with life outside the womb). For lethal fetal anomalies, the bill requires two physician concurrences in writing, documentation of perinatal care options offered to the patient, and specifies that abortions or premature deliveries must be performed to avoid fetal demise or maternal health risks. The law applies to licensed physicians in licensed facilities and amends multiple Tennessee Code sections related to women’s health.
HB 866 amends Tennessee law to extend the deadline for healthcare providers to provide patients or their authorized representatives with medical records from 10 to 20 working days after receiving a written request. This change directly affects patients seeking their health records and healthcare providers subject to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63 (healing arts) and Title 68. The key provision modifies the existing requirement by increasing the processing timeframe without altering other record-access rules. The bill was introduced in the Tennessee House of Representatives on February 4, 2025, and is pending further legislative action.
SB 436 requires Tennessee's Medicaid program (TennCare) to consider using biosimilar drugs - cost-saving, FDA-approved versions of biologic medications - as part of its drug coverage strategy. It also allows health insurers to require patients to try a biosimilar before covering a branded drug, and directs the state's pharmacy advisory committee to factor biosimilar use into recommendations for the state drug formulary. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections governing drug coverage, pharmacy practices, and formulary decisions. These changes aim to reduce prescription drug costs by expanding the use of biosimilars while maintaining FDA safety and efficacy standards. The bill directly affects TennCare patients, health insurers, and the state's drug formulary decision-making process.
