SB 435 requires Tennessee health insurers and TennCare to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of diseases starting January 1, 2026. Biomarker testing - medical tests analyzing genes, proteins, or other biological markers - must be covered when supported by FDA approvals, clinical guidelines, or evidence-based standards. Insurers must process prior authorization requests within 24 hours for urgent cases and 72 hours for non-urgent ones, while ensuring coverage avoids repeated biopsies. This affects all private health benefit plans and TennCare enrollees by mandating coverage for specific, evidence-based diagnostic and treatment tests.
This Tennessee bill (SB 259) clarifies that parents, legal guardians, or custodians can access all health and medical records of unemancipated minors - including records from treatments provided without parental consent. It also permits school staff to provide basic first aid (bandages, gauze, or ice packs) for minor cuts, scrapes, or bumps. The law affects parents, schools, and healthcare providers by expanding access to minors' health records and defining school staff's limited medical authority. It amends Tennessee codes related to healthcare, education, and minor treatment (Titles 33, 36, 37, 49, 63, and 68).
HB 68 changes a Tennessee law requiring the state Department of Education to notify local schools about mental health grants. Specifically, it moves the deadline for this notification from October 15 to October 1 each year. This affects all local education agencies (LEAs) in Tennessee that receive state or federal grants to expand school-based mental health services. The bill directly alters the timing of this notification, giving schools earlier access to funding information. The change is procedural and affects only the administrative timeline for grant distribution.
HB 1061 prohibits out-of-network ambulance providers from charging patients extra fees (balance billing) for emergency ambulance services covered under their health insurance plan. It directly affects patients using emergency ambulance services who are enrolled in health benefit plans, ensuring they pay no more than the lesser of their in-network copay, the ambulance bill, or 325% of the Medicare rate for similar services in their area. The bill requires health insurers to count patient payments toward their deductibles and out-of-pocket limits, and bans providers from asking patients to waive these protections. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, for health plans issued or renewed on or after that date.
HB 413 allows patients with severe chronic diseases or terminal illnesses to access investigational stem cell treatments, as recommended by their physician after considering all FDA-approved options. The bill requires the Tennessee Commissioner of Health to create rules listing qualifying medical conditions and mandates written informed consent from patients (or guardians for minors). It also prohibits government interference with patient access and protects physicians from license penalties for following the law's guidelines. The bill directly affects patients with qualifying conditions and their treating physicians, establishing clear pathways for accessing non-FDA-approved stem cell therapies under specific safeguards.
HB 970, titled the "Tennessee Healthcare Quality and Access Act of 2025," modifies Tennessee's certificate of need (CON) requirements for healthcare facilities. It requires state approval before new construction, bed increases (especially in nursing homes), bed relocations, or facility moves, with exemptions allowed if 95% of patients remain in the same zip codes and access for underserved groups isn’t reduced. The bill mandates public notice via newspaper publication for proposed projects and establishes a process for simultaneous review of competing applications. It directly affects hospitals, nursing homes, and healthcare providers seeking to expand, relocate, or change services in Tennessee.
This bill would allow Tennessee's governor to expand Medicaid eligibility solely for sickle cell disease treatment, as permitted under federal law. It directly affects patients diagnosed with sickle cell disease in Tennessee who would gain access to Medicaid coverage for their treatment. The key mechanism requires the governor to negotiate terms with federal Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement this targeted expansion under the Affordable Care Act. The bill amends specific Tennessee laws (TCA Title 4 and 71, Chapter 5) to authorize this limited Medicaid expansion.
HB 1107 requires Tennessee public schools (including public charter schools) serving grades 4-12 to provide free feminine hygiene products in all women’s and girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms. The bill also mandates state reimbursement for schools purchasing these products and directs the Department of Health to launch a public campaign encouraging donations from individuals and nonprofits. It applies to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, with an effective date of July 1, 2025. The bill failed in the Education Administration Subcommittee on March 11, 2025, and did not advance further.
SB 437 requires most health insurance plans in Tennessee to cover mental health and substance abuse services through a specific integrated care model called the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (PCCM), effective July 1, 2025. This model involves primary care providers, care managers, and psychiatric consultants working together to coordinate patient treatment using validated tools and regular assessments. Insurance plans may deny coverage only if they comply with existing state and federal mental health parity laws (including the MHPAEA) and medical necessity standards. The requirement applies to TennCare and CoverKids programs when services are deemed medically necessary by program guidelines.
This is a resolution (not a binding bill), formally urging the U.S. Congress to enact legislation that would expand veterans' access to treatments for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It specifically references the Veterans' National Traumatic Injury Treatment Act (H.R. 3649), which would fund pilot programs for therapies like hyperbaric oxygen therapy alongside counseling. The resolution does not create new policy but requests Congress adopt such legislation to improve veteran care. It directly affects veterans with TBI or PTSD by advocating for broader treatment options.
