Healthcare

failed · Tennessee · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 2088: Health Care - As introduced, exempts a nurse who provides home health services to four or less patients from hiring staff or maintaining an office in order to qualify for licensure as a home care organization by the health facilities commission; requires a nurse who does not hire staff or maintain an office to submit a request to the department of health for space at a location deemed appropriate by the department to securely store patient records. - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 2088 allows nurses providing home health services to four or fewer patients to qualify for home care organization licensure without needing to hire staff or maintain an office. Instead, these nurses must request secure, department-approved space from the Tennessee Department of Health to store patient records. The bill specifically applies to licensed registered nurses, practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants working with limited patients. It amends Tennessee law (Titles 63 and 68) and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReduces regulatory barriers for home health nurses, allowing service to 4+ patients without office/staff requirements, improving access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care Medical Licensing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2399: Health Care - As introduced, redefines a licensed professional counselor as a limited practice professional counselor; redefines a licensed professional counselor with a designation as a mental health service provider as a licensed professional counselor; terminates the issuance of limited practice professional counselor licenses on July 1, 2028. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 33; Title 36; Title 49; Title 52; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 2399 redefines Tennessee's counseling licensure categories by creating a new "limited practice professional counselor" designation and eliminating the separate license for this category. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to update terminology, requiring all future applications for this specific license type to meet new standards (including coursework in mental disorder diagnosis and two years of supervised clinical experience). It terminates the issuance of "limited practice professional counselor" licenses effective July 1, 2028, and mandates that existing holders of this license must convert to a "licensed professional counselor" by that date. The bill directly affects counseling professionals seeking licensure or currently holding the limited practice designation under Tennessee law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill tightens counseling licensure standards with mandatory diagnosis coursework and supervision, improving mental health service quality per updated licensing requirements.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health Tags Licensing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2607: Autopsies - As introduced, requires a county medical examiner to report certain instances of the natural death of an infant or young person under 20 to the federal Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Death in the Young Case Registry; requires the county medical examiner to review the deceased infant's or young person's immunization and medical records; authorizes civil penalties and license sanctions for violations. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 2607 requires Tennessee county medical examiners to report sudden unexpected infant deaths (under 1 year) and sudden deaths in young people (under 20) to a federal CDC registry. Medical examiners must review the deceased child’s immunization and medical records during autopsies and document recent vaccinations. The bill imposes civil penalties of up to $5,000 for repeated failures to report cases and allows licensing boards to sanction medical examiners who repeatedly violate the requirement. It directly affects county medical examiners and healthcare providers involved in death investigations, aiming to improve data collection for public health research.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates reporting sudden infant/young deaths to CDC registry for public health surveillance, enhancing data collection to improve health outcomes and prevent future cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 18, 2026

HB 2571: Physicians and Surgeons - As enacted, requires the board of medical examiners to issue a provisional foreign training license of two years, which may be extended for an additional one year, to an internationally trained physician who has successfully completed the examination described in current law upon finding sufficient evidence that the internationally trained physician has met certain listed criteria; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 63.

HB 2571 creates a two-year provisional license for internationally trained physicians in Tennessee who pass required exams and meet specific criteria, including holding an ECFMG certificate and completing postgraduate training. The license requires employment at approved facilities like federally qualified health centers or rural clinics with onsite supervising physicians. After two years of satisfactory practice at these approved sites, physicians may qualify for a full medical license upon demonstrating competency and passing USMLE steps. This bill directly affects foreign-trained doctors seeking to practice in Tennessee while establishing clear pathways for supervised training and licensure.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables internationally trained physicians to practice in rural clinics and FQHCs, expanding access to healthcare services in underserved areas with specific licensing requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 2460: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Dept. of - As introduced, adds the legislative librarian to the list the department of mental health and substance abuse services must submit its quarterly report to on the implementation and impact of available suitable accommodations, including the number and length of any delayed admissions, in state owned or operated hospitals or treatment resources. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 33; Title 52; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 2460 requires Tennessee's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to include the legislative librarian in its quarterly reports about mental health accommodations. These reports must detail the implementation and impact of available accommodations, including the number and duration of delayed admissions at state-run hospitals and treatment facilities. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 33, 4, 52, 63, and 68) to update reporting requirements. It directly affects the department's reporting process and ensures the legislative librarian receives these reports.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates detailed reporting on mental health accommodations and admission delays, enhancing oversight and accountability in state mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 2446: Massage Therapy - As introduced, enacts the "Interstate Massage Compact." - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 63.

SB 2446 establishes Tennessee's participation in the "Interstate Massage Compact," creating a multistate licensing pathway for massage therapists. It directly affects licensed massage therapists seeking to practice in multiple participating states, while improving public access to services and safety. Key provisions include forming an interstate commission to manage licensing, share disciplinary information between states, and allow therapists to practice across state lines with a single license. The compact also specifically aims to support military members and spouses relocating, and requires therapists to maintain continuing competence. This bill does not replace existing state licensing but adds a new, streamlined option for cross-state practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes multistate licensing for massage therapists, improving public access to services and safety, directly advancing health service accessibility per bill summary.92% confidence

Tags Licensing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2195: Safety - As introduced, requires an air medical communication specialist to be certified within six months of employment by certain listed certified flight programs. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 140.

HB 2195 requires air medical communication specialists working for certain accredited flight programs in Tennessee to obtain certification within six months of starting their job. It directly affects specialists employed by flight programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) or affiliated with the International Association of Medical Transport Communication Specialists (IAMTCS). The bill specifies two acceptable certification pathways: CAMTS accreditation or IAMTCS membership. This policy change establishes a clear timeline for professional certification to ensure specialists meet standardized training requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires certification for air medical specialists to ensure safety standards in emergency transport, strengthening healthcare service quality and patient safety protocols.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates certification for air medical specialists to ensure workplace safety standards, directly improving occupational safety within Labor & Employment framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 2358: Podiatrists - As enacted, changes the scope of practice of a podiatrist from a person who examines, diagnoses, or treats, in addition to the ailments of the human foot and ankle, the soft tissue of the lower leg distal to the tibial tuberosity, instead of the soft tissue structures extending no higher than the distal tibial metaphyseal flair. - Amends TCA Title 63.

SB 2358 amends Tennessee law to adjust the scope of practice for podiatrists by changing the anatomical boundary of the lower leg they can treat. The bill replaces the current limit - "soft tissue structures extending no higher than the distal tibial metaphyseal flair" - with "the soft tissue of the lower leg below the tibial tuberosity." This change directly affects podiatrists in Tennessee by expanding the area they are legally permitted to treat without additional authorization. The amendment updates Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, to reflect this adjustment in medical practice boundaries.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands podiatrist scope of practice, improving patient access to foot/ankle care without additional authorization, aligning with healthcare access enhancement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2373: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As introduced, specifies that a jailer's authorization to evaluate a person confined in the county jail for purposes of the person's care includes evaluating the person's need for medical attention. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8, Chapter 8; Title 29; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 2373 amends Tennessee law to explicitly require county jailers to assess inmates' need for medical attention as part of their routine evaluations. This directly affects jailers and all individuals confined in county jails, ensuring medical needs are formally considered during care and classification. The key change modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 41-4-103(b) to add "medical attention" to the list of purposes for which jailers may evaluate confined persons. The bill does not create new funding or penalties but clarifies existing authority to improve medical oversight in local detention facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires jailers to formally assess medical needs for inmates, improving correctional care standards and aligning with criminal justice reform principles focused on humane treatment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates jailers to formally evaluate inmates' medical needs, ensuring healthcare access in correctional facilities per TCA §41-4-103(b).95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 2333: Pharmacy, Pharmacists - As introduced, prohibits a pharmacy benefits manager from certain listed actions, including modifying, restricting, or denying a medication ordered by a healthcare prescriber; requires that a request for a formulary exception or prior authorization be granted or denied by a pharmacy benefits manager within a specified amount of time or such request is deemed approved. - Amends TCA Title 53; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 71.

HB 2333 restricts pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) in Tennessee by prohibiting them from modifying, restricting, or denying medications ordered by healthcare prescribers without proper process. It requires PBMs to respond to formulary exception or prior authorization requests within 24 hours for urgent cases or 72 hours otherwise, with requests deemed approved if unanswered. The bill also bans PBMs from retaliating against pharmacies or prescribers for exercising rights under the law and mandates annual reporting of response times and approval rates to state departments. This directly affects prescribers, pharmacies, and PBMs by protecting clinical decision-making and increasing transparency in medication access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits PBMs from denying prescriber-ordered meds without process, mandates timely responses, and protects patient access to medications.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits PBMs from retaliating against pharmacists/prescribers for exercising rights, directly protecting healthcare workers' rights under labor context.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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