Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · House May 18, 2026

HB 853: 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.

HB 853 clarifies that parents, legal guardians, or legal custodians of unemancipated minors can access all health and medical records, including those related to treatments provided without parental consent. The bill also permits school employees to provide basic first aid (bandages, gauze, or ice packs) for minor injuries like cuts, scrapes, bumps, or bruises without requiring parental permission. This legislation amends Tennessee Code sections in Titles 33, 36, 37, 49, 63, and 68 to update language on medical record access and school health procedures. The changes directly affect minors, their caregivers, and school staff by standardizing medical information access and allowing immediate minor injury care in schools.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies parental access to minors' health records and permits school staff to provide basic first aid, improving access and transparency in pediatric healthcare services.92% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1248: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, requires health insurance carriers to provide mental health coverage in parity with alcoholism and drug dependence coverage. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 33; Title 39; Title 49; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 1248 requires Tennessee health insurance carriers to provide equal coverage for mental health services as they do for alcoholism and drug dependence treatment. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections related to health insurance (including Title 56, Section 56-7-2360(c)) to mandate that coverage for mental health must be "to the same extent" as coverage for substance use disorders. It directly affects health insurance carriers and their plans, requiring them to ensure parity in benefits, reimbursement rates, and coverage criteria. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to all new or renewed insurance policies after that date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mental health coverage parity with substance use disorder treatment, expanding access to mental health services under insurance plans per TCA amendments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 533: Health Care - As enacted, enacts the "Fertility Treatment and Contraceptive Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 533, now Public Chapter 247, establishes the "Fertility Treatment and Contraceptive Protection Act" in Tennessee. It defines fertility treatment (including IVF, egg/sperm preservation, and genetic testing) and contraception (covering all pregnancy prevention methods, including over-the-counter options) and explicitly states that Tennessee law does not prohibit these activities. The bill directly affects all Tennesseans seeking reproductive healthcare by guaranteeing the right to access fertility services and contraception without state interference. Key provisions clarify that the state cannot ban or restrict these services, overriding conflicting existing laws. This law took effect immediately upon becoming public on April 29, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareGuarantees access to fertility treatments and contraception by removing legal prohibitions, protecting patient rights in reproductive healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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failed · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 1220: Birth Control - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Contraceptive Freedom Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 1220, the "Tennessee Contraceptive Freedom Act," establishes a fundamental right for all individuals to make decisions about their reproductive health, including access to contraceptives and related information. It requires healthcare providers to either provide contraceptive services or refer patients to someone who can, and prohibits restrictions that single out contraceptive care or impede access. The bill defines "contraception" broadly (including emergency contraception and sterilization) and clarifies it is distinct from abortion. It applies directly to patients, healthcare providers, health insurance carriers, and public health agencies across Tennessee. The bill is currently pending, having failed in the Health Committee's Population Health Subcommittee on March 18, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes right to contraceptive access, mandates provider services, prohibits restrictions on reproductive health care95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Public Health Women's Health

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failed · Tennessee · House Mar 5, 2025

HB 18: TennCare - As introduced, directs the bureau to establish a temporary TennCare benefits program to provide medical assistance on a temporary basis to certain individuals who do not qualify for enrollment in TennCare, CoverKids, or a successor program; requires the bureau to submit a waiver to the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services by December 31, 2025. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

HB 18 proposes a temporary health coverage program for Tennesseans who don't qualify for existing TennCare or CoverKids. It would provide up to 60 months of medical assistance (resetting at age 21) to individuals under 21 with income ≤138% of the federal poverty level, or adults ≥21 with similar income, subject to strict 12-month/24-month usage limits. The program requires a federal waiver by December 2025, uses 90% federal/10% state funding, and explicitly states it does not replace eligibility for regular programs (benefits pause if enrollment becomes possible). The bill failed in the Insurance Committee on March 5, 2025, and remains inactive.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates temporary coverage for ineligible low-income youth/adults, expands access via federal waiver, uses 90% federal funds to fill coverage gap for those excluded from TennCare/CoverKids.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 364: TennCare - As introduced, enacts "Emma's Bill," which requires that when making a determination of medical necessity, the bureau shall take into consideration the patient's overall condition and use such overall condition as a factor to determine the level of funding and what medical items and services the patient receives, even if such determination does not result in the least costly course of diagnosis or treatment. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 71.

HB 364 ("Emma's Bill") changes Tennessee's TennCare program to require health officials to consider a patient's overall medical condition - not just cost - when deciding what care is medically necessary. It directly affects TennCare patients (especially those with complex needs like mobility issues, cognitive challenges, or life-support equipment) and the Tennessee Department of Health (the "bureau" managing TennCare). The bill adds specific factors to review, including mobility, communication ability, need for constant nursing supervision, and reliance on ventilators or life-sustaining equipment, even if more expensive care is needed. This overrides the previous rule that required choosing the "least costly alternative" for all decisions. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates TennCare to consider patients' overall condition (not just cost) for medical necessity, prioritizing complex needs like mobility/cognitive challenges over cost-cutting.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 291: Medical Occupations - As introduced, extends from 30 business days to 60 business days the period of time an individual, applicant, licensee, certificate holder, or registrant has to file a petition in Davidson County chancery court following receipt of a notice from a health-related licensing authority that the authority is denying an application for or refusing to renew a license, certificate, or registration on the basis of a prior criminal conviction. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 291 extends the deadline for healthcare license applicants or holders facing denial due to a prior criminal conviction to file a court challenge in Davidson County. It changes the timeframe from 30 to 60 business days after receiving a denial notice from a licensing authority. This procedural bill affects individuals seeking or renewing licenses in Tennessee’s healthcare professions (like nurses or doctors) who must challenge denials based on past criminal records. The change applies to cases filed in Davidson County chancery court under Tennessee law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends deadline for challenging healthcare license denials based on prior criminal convictions, reducing barriers to professional reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends deadline for healthcare license challenges, improving access to medical professions by reducing procedural barriers for applicants with prior convictions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 1208: 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.

HB 1208 amends Tennessee law to allow pharmacists to provide weight management services through existing collaborative practice agreements with physicians. This change directly affects pharmacists in Tennessee who operate under such agreements and patients seeking weight management support through pharmacy settings. The bill adds "weight management services" to the list of authorized services in these agreements under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 63, Chapter 10. It does not create new requirements but expands current practice options for pharmacists. The bill is currently pending amendment after initial introduction.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands patient access to weight management services via pharmacists under collaborative agreements, increasing healthcare service availability without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 321: Health Care - As enacted, creates the advisory task force on state reimbursement rates to make recommendations on annual adjustments to the reimbursement rates paid to agencies that perform healthcare functions and services, the purpose of which is to ensure such reimbursement rates are adequate. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 62 and Title 63.

SB 321 creates an advisory task force to review and recommend annual adjustments to state reimbursement rates paid to healthcare providers under state contracts. The task force, composed of 6 appointed members (3 by each legislative chamber, representing health professions) plus agency representatives, will assess whether reimbursement rates cover agencies' costs, staff salaries, and administrative expenses for frontline healthcare workers. It must submit annual recommendations by August 1, starting in 2026, focusing on ensuring rates are adequate to support quality care for vulnerable populations. This bill directly affects state-contracted healthcare agencies and providers who serve Medicaid and other state-funded programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates task force to ensure state reimbursement rates cover healthcare agencies' costs, staff salaries, and expenses, directly advancing provider funding adequacy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 1044: Health Care - As enacted, enacts the "Medical Ethics Defense Act." - Amends TCA Title 63.

HB 1044, now Public Chapter 266, enacts Tennessee's "Medical Ethics Defense Act" to protect healthcare providers' rights to refuse care based on conscience. It prohibits discrimination against providers who decline to participate in specific procedures (like certain reproductive or end-of-life care) that conflict with their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs, as defined in the law. The bill also shields providers from retaliation for reporting violations of these protections or disclosing concerns about patient safety. It explicitly excludes federal laws like EMTALA and religious institutions' employment decisions from its scope.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProtects providers' right to refuse care (e.g., reproductive/end-of-life services), restricting patient access to those services per bill's explicit purpose.92% confidence

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