Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2025

SB 52: Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the board of alcohol and drug abuse counselors to June 30, 2029. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 68, Chapter 24.

SB 52 extends the operating authorization for Tennessee's Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors until June 30, 2029. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29, and Title 68, Chapter 24, to remove an outdated reference and add the board's name to relevant sections. This procedural update ensures the board can continue its regulatory work without needing new legislation before 2029. The bill directly affects the board's ability to oversee alcohol and drug abuse counselor licensing and standards. It does not change the board's duties or create new requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends regulatory authority for mental health counselors, ensuring continuity of oversight for alcohol/drug abuse counseling services under healthcare framework.90% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 19, 2025

HB 651: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, prohibits a health insurance entity or TennCare MCO from including an all-products clause in a network participation agreement with a healthcare provider, and makes certain other changes related to MCO network adequacy. - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 71.

HB 651 prohibits health insurance companies and TennCare managed care organizations (MCOs) from including "all-products clauses" in contracts with healthcare providers. These clauses would force providers (like doctors, nurses, and physician assistants) to join multiple networks or offer services under other plans from the same insurer as a condition of participation. The bill makes such clauses void and imposes a $10,000 civil penalty per violation on insurers. It requires the insurance commissioner to create rules by July 2026 to enforce this prohibition, directly affecting provider contracts and network access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans restrictive 'all-products clauses' forcing providers into multiple insurer networks, improving provider choice and access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 688: Health, Dept. of - As introduced, authorizes the commissioner to develop and maintain an essential buffer stock of necessary medicines and healthcare supplies to be distributed during a natural or man-made disaster, mass casualty event, or public health emergency. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 53; Title 58; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 688 requires Tennessee's Health Commissioner to create and maintain a statewide stockpile of essential medicines and medical supplies for emergencies like natural disasters, public health crises, or mass casualty events. This stockpile directly affects healthcare providers, hospitals, and rural or medically underserved communities by ensuring priority access during emergencies. Key provisions include establishing guidelines for procurement and distribution, consulting with emergency management officials, and allowing contracts with private vendors to manage a "virtually sequestered" buffer stock. The bill mandates that distribution plans specifically address needs in underserved areas and prioritize facilities serving vulnerable populations during shortages.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates essential medicine stockpile for emergencies, ensuring healthcare access during crises and strengthening public health infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Jan 28, 2025

HB 70: TennCare - As introduced, requires a TennCare health benefit plan renewed or issued on or after July 1, 2025, by a health insurance carrier to provide coverage and reimbursement for biomarker testing for preeclampsia in pregnant women. - Amends TCA Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 70 requires TennCare health benefit plans (renewed or issued on or after July 1, 2025) to cover and reimburse biomarker testing for preeclampsia in pregnant women. This directly affects pregnant women enrolled in Tennessee's Medicaid program (TennCare) and the health insurance carriers providing their coverage. The bill mandates that testing must be ordered by a physician, conducted by the prenatal care provider using FDA-approved methods, and follow clinical guidelines. It also allows TennCare to create rules and seek federal approval to ensure Medicaid coverage for this testing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates TennCare coverage for preeclampsia biomarker testing, expanding access to critical prenatal care for pregnant women.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Women's Health

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introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 508: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, extends from 30 to 60 days the period of time following delivery of a medicare supplement policy or certificate during which an applicant may have the premium refunded, and about which each medicare supplement policy or certificate must have notice prominently printed on the first page of the policy or certificate. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 13; Title 8; Title 55, Chapter 12; Title 56 and Title 71.

HB 508 extends the refund period for Medicare supplement policies (Medigap) in Tennessee from 30 to 60 days after policy delivery. This change directly affects consumers who purchase these policies, giving them more time to review coverage and request a premium refund if unsatisfied. The bill requires all policies to include a clear notice about the 60-day refund window prominently on the first page. It will take effect January 1, 2026, for policies delivered on or after that date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Medigap refund window to 60 days, enhancing consumer protection and decision-making rights in healthcare insurance policies.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SJR 52: General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position - Reaffirms the General Assembly's intent to protect pregnant people, their friends, and their families. -

SJR 52 is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally reaffirms the Tennessee General Assembly's intent to prevent the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes. It states the legislature opposes using state laws to prosecute pregnant people, their friends, or family members for pregnancy loss, miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion. The resolution highlights that Tennessee has the third-highest number of such criminal cases in the U.S. and notes that current laws disproportionately impact low-income residents and people of color. As a non-binding statement of legislative intent, it does not change existing laws but expresses the Assembly's position on this issue.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly opposes criminalizing pregnancy outcomes, reducing unjust criminalization in the justice system per its stated intent.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents criminalization of pregnancy outcomes, protecting patient access to healthcare without fear of prosecution for miscarriage or abortion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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failed · Tennessee · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SB 489: Health Care - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act," which establishes a medical cannabis program to be administered by the Tennessee medical cannabis program commission. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 38, Chapter 3; Title 39, Chapter 17; Title 43; Title 50; Title 53; Title 63; Title 67 and Title 68.

SB 489, the "Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act," would establish a regulated medical cannabis program for patients with qualifying conditions in Tennessee. It creates a Tennessee Medical Cannabis Program Commission to license and oversee cultivation, processing, and dispensing operations, requiring physician certifications for patients and setting up a tracking system from cultivation to sale. The bill defines medical cannabis (excluding hemp) and specifies qualifying conditions, while prohibiting smoking/vaping products and cannabis-infused foods like edibles until future rulemaking. It would directly affect Tennessee patients seeking medical cannabis, healthcare providers issuing certifications, and businesses applying for licenses to operate dispensaries or cultivation facilities. The bill remains pending after failing committee review in February 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes regulated medical cannabis program, improving patient access to treatment for qualifying conditions under medical supervision.92% confidence

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passed · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2025

HB 27: Abortion - As introduced, enacts the "Reproductive Freedom Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 20; Title 29; Title 37; Title 39; Title 49; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 27, titled the "Reproductive Freedom Act," establishes a new legal framework protecting reproductive healthcare access in Tennessee. It defines "reproductive health care" to include abortion, contraception, prenatal care, and related services, and affirms individuals' fundamental rights to make decisions about their reproductive health without state interference. The bill requires health insurance plans to cover reproductive health care (Section 15) and repeals multiple existing state laws that restricted abortion access or imposed criminal penalties for reproductive care (Sections 2-22). This legislation directly affects all Tennesseans seeking reproductive healthcare by removing legal barriers and mandating coverage under state-regulated insurance plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurance coverage for reproductive health care (including abortion, contraception) and protects access without state interference, expanding coverage and protecting patient rights per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Women's Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 1372: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, prohibits a health insurance entity or TennCare MCO from including an all-products clause in a network participation agreement with a healthcare provider, and makes certain other changes related to MCO network adequacy. - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 71.

SB 1372 prohibits health insurers and TennCare managed care organizations (MCOs) from requiring healthcare providers (such as doctors, nurses, and physician assistants) to join multiple networks or offer services under different plans as a condition for participating in their provider networks. This "all-products clause" ban directly affects providers who previously faced pressure to accept bundled contracts. Violations carry a $10,000 civil penalty per occurrence, and the commissioner must create implementing rules by July 2026. The bill aims to improve provider network access, particularly in rural areas, by reducing restrictive contracting practices.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits restrictive 'all-products clauses' forcing providers into multiple networks, improving provider access and network adequacy per bill summary.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 1401: Budget Procedures - As introduced, authorizes grant payments under the grant assistance program for nursing home care to be made either monthly or quarterly. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 9; Title 10; Title 11; Title 12; Title 13; Title 16; Title 17; Title 18; Title 29; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 42; Title 43; Title 44; Title 45; Title 47; Title 48; Title 49; Title 50; Title 53; Title 54; Title 55; Title 56; Title 57; Title 58; Title 59; Title 60; Title 61; Title 62; Title 63; Title 64; Title 65; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68; Title 69; Title 70 and Title 71.

HB 1401 changes how nursing home care grant payments are distributed in Tennessee. It requires that payments under the grant assistance program be made either monthly or quarterly directly to nursing home residents (or their legally authorized representatives), rather than to the facilities. This ensures residents receive funds directly for their care, with payments specified as nonassignable and payable only to the individual. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to implement this change, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures nursing home grant funds go directly to residents (not facilities), protecting patient rights and improving access to care through nonassignable payments.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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