Healthcare

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 37: Opioids - As enacted, authorizes an insurer, for purposes of group insurance plans offered to state employees, to adopt or amend a state preferred drug list (PDL); requires the insurer to ensure that a non-opioid drug approved by the U.S. food and drug administration for the treatment or management of pain is not disadvantaged or discouraged with respect to coverage relative to an opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain on the PDL. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 37 requires insurers offering health plans to Tennessee state employees to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications equally with opioids on their preferred drug lists (PDL). It prohibits insurers from discouraging coverage for non-opioid options used for pain management, though it allows insurers to prefer one opioid over another or one non-opioid over another. This applies specifically to state employee group insurance plans covered under Tennessee Code Annotated sections 56-7-3801 to 56-7-3803. The law, effective January 1, 2026, aims to expand access to non-opioid pain treatments without mandating their preference.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain meds equally with opioids in state employee plans, improving patient access to alternatives and reducing opioid reliance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Substance Abuse

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 1, 2025

HJR 69: General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position - Urges State to adopt a plan to make Tennessee healthy. -

HJR 69 is a non-binding resolution urging Tennessee to adopt a comprehensive plan to address chronic disease. It proposes four key areas: reforming food access (e.g., restricting junk food in SNAP benefits, increasing healthy food availability), integrating health education in schools, improving government health standards (like banning toxins and updating FDA processes), and requiring nutritious meals in state facilities. The resolution directs state officials to support these principles and participate in an annual "Make Tennessee Healthy" summit. It does not create new laws but calls for policy shifts to reduce preventable health issues affecting Tennesseans.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExplicitly integrates health education into school curriculum, expanding educational content and student programs as part of health initiatives.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill urges comprehensive plan addressing chronic disease through healthy food access, school health education, and improved government health standards, aligning with healthcare advancement indicators.92% confidence

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 595: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, enacts the "Freedom to Grow Our Tennessee Families Act." - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 71.

HB 595, the "Freedom to Grow Our Tennessee Families Act," requires Tennessee health insurers to cover specific fertility services starting January 1, 2026. It mandates coverage for fertility diagnostic care, treatment (to achieve pregnancy), and preservation services (like egg freezing), including at least three egg retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers. The law prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on medical history (e.g., cancer treatment), using donor gametes, or discriminating due to race, gender, or relationship status. It also bans waiting periods and requires insurers to base coverage limits solely on medical guidelines from established fertility organizations. This directly affects Tennessee residents with health insurance plans and the state’s health insurers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer coverage for fertility services including diagnostics, treatment, and preservation, prohibiting denial based on medical history. Expands access to reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 435: Insurance, Health, Accident - As enacted, requires a health insurer that issues, amends, delivers, or renews a contract or agreement for a health benefit plan to take effect on or after January 1, 2027, to include coverage for biomarker testing; requires a TennCare health benefit plan that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, to provide coverage for biomarker testing when medically necessary. - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 71.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers and TennCare to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis/treatment per clinical guidelines, expanding patient access to essential diagnostics starting 2026.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 18, 2026

SB 259: Children - As enacted, clarifies that a child's parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian may, to the extent allowable by federal law, access and review all health and medical records of the child, including those records related to treatments available to unemancipated minors without parental consent; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 49; Title 63 and Title 68.

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).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies parental access to minors' health records, expanding patient (parental) rights regarding medical information without restricting coverage or funding.75% confidence

in committee · Tennessee · House Jan 15, 2025

HB 68: Education, Dept. of - As introduced, changes the date, from October 15 to October 1, by which the department must notify local education agencies (LEAs) of all state and federal grants available to assist the LEA in expanding mental health services and resources in schools. - Amends TCA Title 49.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMoves grant notification deadline earlier (Oct 1 vs Oct 15), enabling schools to access mental health funding faster for expanded services, directly advancing educational support.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill accelerates grant notification timeline (Oct 1 vs Oct 15) for school mental health services, enabling earlier access to existing funding to expand care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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passed · Tennessee · House Apr 6, 2026

HB 1061: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, prohibits an out-of-network ambulance service provider from balance billing an enrollee in a health benefit plan for emergency ambulance services; establishes allowable billable costs for such services. - Amends TCA Title 56, Chapter 7 and Title 68, Chapter 140.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits out-of-network ambulance balance billing, limits patient costs to in-network copays or 325% Medicare rate, directly protects patient rights and improves access to emergency care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 413: Health Care - As introduced, authorizes a patient with a severe chronic disease or terminal illness to access, and a physician to recommend, investigational stem cell treatment; requires the commissioner of health to promulgate rules to, among other things, list the medical conditions that constitute a qualifying severe chronic disease or terminal illness. - Amends TCA Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands patient access to investigational stem cell treatments for qualifying severe chronic/terminal illnesses after FDA-approved options considered, requiring informed consent.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 970: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Healthcare Quality and Access Act of 2025." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 34; Title 42; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68; Title 71 and Chapter 985 of the Public Acts of 2024.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill modifies CON requirements with exemptions to maintain access for underserved groups and ensure 95% patient retention in zip codes, supporting patient access and quality.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 501: TennCare - As introduced, authorizes the governor to expand medicaid eligibility solely for the purpose of providing treatment for a patient with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease in accordance with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and to negotiate with the centers for medicare and medicaid services with respect to the terms of such expansion. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid eligibility for sickle cell disease treatment, improving patient access to coverage under ACA framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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