SB 189 would create a $250 grant program for full-time undergraduate students at Tennessee's public colleges and universities. To qualify, students must voluntarily provide proof of STD testing to their school, with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) managing the program and ensuring HIPAA-compliant confidentiality. Grant funds must cover tuition, mandatory fees, textbooks, or course materials at the student's enrolling institution. The program would be funded through a dedicated account in the state general fund, pending legislative appropriation.
SB 316 removes a requirement that the Tennessee governor must get approval from the state legislature before making decisions about expanding optional enrollment in TennCare (the state's Medicaid program). This change directly affects the governor's authority to manage Medicaid expansion without needing legislative authorization. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 71 by deleting Section 71-5-126, which previously mandated this approval process. The key provision simplifies the decision-making process for Medicaid program expansion by eliminating the need for the General Assembly's prior consent.
HB 173 sets new minimum (100%) and maximum (120%) reimbursement rates for rural hospitals providing services to TennCare patients, directly affecting rural hospitals with 49 or fewer beds located outside urbanized areas. The bill requires these rates to be calculated based on each hospital's current federal Medicare reimbursement rates. It amends Tennessee Code to define "rural hospital" and mandates that TennCare's reimbursement levels align with Medicare rates for routine inpatient care. The director may seek federal waivers to implement this without expanding Medicaid eligibility.
HB 1244 requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) in Tennessee to pay pharmacies for prescription claims within 30 days for paper submissions and 14 days for electronic submissions if the claim is "clean" (complete, error-free, and without missing documentation). The bill removes previous caps on aggregate penalties for PBMs that fail to meet these payment deadlines, imposing tiered fines up to $200,000 for failing to process 60% of clean claims annually. It also mandates 1% monthly interest on overdue payments and defines key terms like "clean claim" to standardize processing requirements. This directly affects PBMs and pharmacists, ensuring faster reimbursement for prescription services under Tennessee’s insurance laws.
SB 860 allows individuals (including terminal patients) to formally refuse body or tissue donation through written documentation or oral statement, which cannot be overridden by others. If a person refuses donation, procurement organizations must immediately release remains to the funeral home designated by the family, without contacting relatives. The bill also requires organizations to contact family within six hours of death if no refusal exists, and imposes $500 civil penalties for repeated violations of these rules. It directly affects donors, families, and organ procurement organizations in Tennessee.
HB 1242 amends Tennessee law to protect 340B entities - such as safety-net hospitals and clinics participating in the federal 340B drug discount program - from restrictive practices by drug manufacturers. It prohibits manufacturers from denying 340B drug access, imposing extra data requirements (like health information or purchasing data), interfering with contracts, or requiring claim reversals beyond federal rules. Violations carry a $50,000 civil penalty per violation, enforceable by the state commissioner or attorney general. The law ensures Tennessee regulations align with federal 340B program requirements without conflicting with them. This directly affects 340B entities and drug manufacturers operating in Tennessee.
SB 575 requires all Tennessee hospitals and birthing centers offering labor and delivery services to provide new mothers (and, if possible, a caregiver or family member) with clear information about post-birth warning signs - such as symptoms to watch for and local resources - before discharge. The Tennessee Department of Health must also supply this information to all facilities and make it publicly available on its website. This law directly affects healthcare providers in maternal care and ensures new mothers and their support networks receive standardized, accessible guidance on postpartum health concerns. It revises state law to improve maternal health communication without changing medical standards or treatment protocols.
SB 25 clarifies that parents, legal guardians, or custodians can access all health and medical records of their unemancipated children, including records from treatments provided without parental consent (such as certain reproductive health services). It also allows school staff to provide basic first aid - like bandages, gauze, or ice packs - for minor cuts, scrapes, or bumps without parental permission. The bill directly affects parents, schools, healthcare providers, and minors by standardizing record access and expanding school staff’s authority for minor injuries. These changes update existing Tennessee law to ensure consistent access to health information and streamline school health responses.
SB 402 prohibits healthcare providers from reporting a patient's medical debt to credit bureaus and bans credit bureaus from including medical debt in consumer credit reports. It directly affects patients (preventing medical debt from damaging credit scores), healthcare providers (who can no longer report such debt to bureaus), and credit bureaus (which must remove existing medical debt records). The law takes effect July 1, 2025, covering all medical debt from healthcare services, though providers may still report to debt collectors. Violations are enforced under Tennessee's Consumer Protection Act, with remedies available through the Attorney General's office.
HB 1260 requires Tennessee’s Department of Finance and Administration, working with the Department of Health and TennCare, to apply for federal approval by January 1, 2026, to import prescription drugs from Canada. The bill mandates that the application must prove imported drugs meet safety standards, comply with U.S. supply chain laws, list cost-saving drugs, and identify Canadian suppliers. If approved, the state would implement a program to import the most cost-effective drugs, aiming to reduce prescription drug costs for Tennessee residents, particularly those covered by TennCare. The bill does not guarantee savings or implementation but sets a timeline for seeking federal permission.
