Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 18, 2025

SB 552: 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.

SB 552 extends the refund period for Medicare supplement insurance policies in Tennessee from 30 to 60 days after policy delivery. It directly affects consumers purchasing these policies by giving them more time to cancel and receive a refund if they change their mind. The bill requires insurers to prominently display this 60-day window on the first page of every policy or certificate. This change applies to all new, renewed, or amended policies issued on or after January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Medicare supplement refund window from 30 to 60 days, enhancing consumer protection and choice in health insurance purchasing per bill's intent.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 424: Pharmacy, Pharmacists - As introduced, permits the services authorized in a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement to include weight management services. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 10 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

SB 424 would allow pharmacists in Tennessee to provide weight management services under existing collaborative agreements with doctors. This bill amends Tennessee laws (Title 63, Chapter 10 and Title 71, Chapter 5) to explicitly include weight management as an authorized service in these agreements. It directly affects pharmacists, enabling them to offer this support without needing separate physician authorization for each patient. The change takes effect upon becoming law, expanding patient access to weight management resources through pharmacy settings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly expands pharmacists' scope to include weight management services, improving patient access to healthcare without separate physician authorization, advancing healthcare access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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failed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 474: Medical Occupations - As introduced, prohibits a healthcare provider from inquiring as to a patient's ownership, possession of, or access to firearm ammunition or firearm accessories; subjects the healthcare provider to disciplinary action and a fine of $1,000 if the healthcare provider makes such inquires. - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 474 prohibits Tennessee healthcare providers from asking patients about firearm ammunition ownership, possession, or access during medical visits. It also bans denying treatment or recording such information unless medically relevant, and requires written notice if an inquiry occurs. Violations carry a $1,000 fine per incident and potential disciplinary action from licensing authorities. The law directly affects most healthcare providers (excluding psychiatrists/psychologists) and protects patients' rights regarding firearm ownership during medical care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits healthcare providers from inquiring about firearm ownership, protecting patient privacy and rights during medical visits per healthcare service standards.85% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 870: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, prohibits an insurer, pharmacy benefits manager, or third-party administrator from changing or conditioning the terms of health plan coverage based on availability of financial or other product assistance for a prescription drug; establishes certain procedures for calculating an enrollee's contribution to an applicable cost sharing requirement. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 10; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 870 prohibits insurers, pharmacy benefits managers, and third-party administrators from altering health plan coverage terms based on whether a patient qualifies for financial or product assistance for prescription drugs. The bill requires insurers to calculate enrollees' out-of-pocket costs using standard methods, including amounts paid by others on the enrollee's behalf, and explicitly bans conditioning coverage on drug assistance availability. It directly affects health plan enrollees and the entities managing prescription drug benefits in Tennessee. The law applies to health plans entered into, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, and amends multiple sections of Tennessee's health insurance code.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from altering coverage terms based on drug assistance availability, protecting patient access to medications and preventing coverage restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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died · Tennessee · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 613: Expunction - As introduced, allows an eligible petitioner to have the records of a conviction for driving under the influence of an intoxicant expunged if the person has no other criminal convictions and 20 years have elapsed since the completion of the sentence imposed; requires the petitioner to pay an additional $50.00 fee to be used by the county for certain alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment purposes. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 32 and Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 4.

SB 613, a proposed Tennessee bill, would have allowed individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) to have their criminal records expunged after 20 years from completing their sentence, provided they had no other criminal convictions. It required petitioners to pay a $50 fee, with the funds directed to county alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment programs. The bill amended Tennessee expungement law (TCA Title 40, Chapter 32) to extend the waiting period for DUI convictions from 10 to 20 years and added the fee requirement. The bill was introduced on January 31, 2025, but was withdrawn on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables expungement of DUI records after 20 years, reducing barriers to reintegration, and directs $50 fees to alcohol/drug treatment programs - core criminal justice reform elements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill directs $50 expungement fees to county alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment programs, explicitly funding healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 1387: TennCare - As introduced, requires, on and after July 1, 2026, a minor who is enrolled in TennCare medicaid or the CoverKids program to remain eligible for such program until the minor reaches 18; prohibits the division of TennCare from subjecting the minor to a redetermination of eligibility or disenrollment, except under certain circumstances; requires the director of TennCare to submit any necessary federal waiver request by December 31, 2025. - Amends TCA Title 71.

HB 1387 requires Tennessee's TennCare Medicaid and CoverKids programs to automatically renew coverage for enrolled minors until they turn 18, starting July 1, 2026. It prohibits the TennCare division from redetermining eligibility or disenrolling minors for routine reasons (like age) unless specific exceptions apply, such as income exceeding limits, fraud, or a parent/guardian requesting withdrawal. The bill also mandates that the TennCare director submit a federal waiver request by December 31, 2025, to implement this change under federal guidelines. This directly affects minors currently enrolled in these programs, ensuring continuous health coverage without automatic termination at age 18.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends TennCare/CoverKids coverage to minors until age 18 without routine disenrollment, ensuring continuous healthcare access and preventing coverage gaps for vulnerable youth.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 223: Consumer Protection - As introduced, prohibits consumer reporting agencies from including on a consumer report a record of a medical debt judgment that is filed in this state. - Amends TCA Title 9, Chapter 8; Title 16; Title 18; Title 20; Title 21; Title 27; Title 28; Title 29; Title 45 and Title 47.

HB 223 prohibits consumer reporting agencies (like credit bureaus) from including medical debt judgments - court-ordered debts for healthcare costs - in consumers' credit reports starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects Tennessee residents with medical debt that resulted in a court judgment, preventing these judgments from negatively impacting their credit scores. The bill allows consumers to dispute any violations under federal Fair Credit Reporting Act rules and treats violations as unfair practices under Tennessee’s Consumer Protection Act, enabling enforcement by the Attorney General. This change aims to remove a specific barrier to credit rebuilding for individuals facing medical debt.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents medical debt judgments from harming credit scores, protecting patients from financial barriers to healthcare access and aligning with patient rights protections.95% confidence

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failed · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 14: Abortion - As introduced, clarifies that the term "abortion," as defined for the offense of criminal abortion, does not include the use of contraceptives, including any device, medication, biological product, or procedure that is generally intended for use in the prevention of pregnancy, whether specifically intended to prevent pregnancy or for other health needs, or the disposal of embryos resulting from fertility treatments, including healthcare services, procedures, testing, medications, treatments, or products. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39; Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 14 clarifies that Tennessee's definition of "abortion" does not include contraceptive use (such as birth control devices, medications, or procedures intended to prevent pregnancy) or the disposal of unimplanted embryos from fertility treatments (including related healthcare services and medications). The bill directly affects healthcare providers, patients, and fertility clinics by explicitly excluding these common medical practices from criminal abortion statutes. It amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-15-213 and related provisions to define these exclusions. The bill failed in the Health Committee's Population Health Subcommittee on March 18, 2025, and did not advance to the full legislature.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies contraceptives and fertility treatments aren't criminalized, protecting patient access to common healthcare services without legal ambiguity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1189: Abortion - As introduced, deletes the offense of criminal abortion; allows for an abortion before viability of the fetus or when necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant woman. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 1189 removes criminal penalties for abortion in Tennessee and establishes two clear exceptions: abortions are permitted before fetal viability (determined by a physician's medical judgment) or when necessary to protect the pregnant person's life or health. The bill explicitly recognizes a fundamental right to reproductive health care, including abortion decisions, and states that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus has no legal rights under Tennessee law. It directly affects all pregnant people in Tennessee by expanding access to abortion care within these defined limits and prohibits state entities from restricting these rights. The law amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-15-213, 63, and 68 to implement these changes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves criminal barriers to abortion, expanding access to reproductive health care services and protecting patient rights per bill's explicit recognition of reproductive health care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 610: TennCare - As introduced, requires TennCare to provide eligible covered enrollees with continuous glucose monitoring; establishes criteria for eligibility. - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 71.

SB 610 requires TennCare to cover continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for eligible members with specific diabetes conditions. It directly affects TennCare enrollees diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or Type 2 diabetes meeting documented criteria like frequent low blood sugar episodes, high A1C levels, or hospitalizations related to diabetes complications. The bill mandates coverage only when prescribed by an endocrinologist or diabetes specialist confirming the member meets the eligibility requirements. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates TennCare coverage for CGMs for eligible diabetes patients, expanding access to essential medical devices per bill requirements.95% confidence

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