Healthcare

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 2149: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Dept. of - As enacted, enacts the "HOPE Treatment Act." - Amends TCA Title 9; Title 33; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 2149, the "HOPE Treatment Act," creates a framework for Tennessee to fund clinical trials using ibogaine - a compound being studied for treating mental health and substance use disorders - to accelerate research into its medical potential. It allows groups of organizations (including drug developers, universities, and hospitals) to form a "cohort" and apply for state funding to conduct FDA-approved trials for conditions like opioid addiction, PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injury. The bill requires detailed proposals covering trial design, safety protocols, participant recruitment, and aftercare plans before funding is granted. This initiative aims to advance research on ibogaine within Tennessee, aligning with broader state and federal interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds clinical trials for mental health/substance abuse treatments, accelerating research into ibogaine-based therapies for opioid addiction and PTSD, directly advancing healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

died · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2315: Psychologists - As introduced, creates prescribing authority for certain psychologists if certain conditions and prerequisites are met. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 2315 would allow licensed psychologists in Tennessee to prescribe certain medications, including controlled substances, after meeting specific education and training requirements. To qualify, psychologists must complete a post-doctoral master's program in clinical psychopharmacology (with 450 patient contact hours), pass a national exam, and complete a one-year fellowship with at least 100 patient evaluations under physician supervision. The Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology would certify qualified psychologists and establish renewal rules. This bill would directly affect psychologists seeking prescribing authority and their patients, expanding access to mental health treatment options within psychology practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands mental health care access by enabling psychologists to prescribe medications after meeting rigorous training requirements, directly supporting patient access to mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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signed · Tennessee · House May 26, 2026

HB 2093: Managed Care Organizations - As enacted, prohibits a managed care organization from including a provision in the managed care organization's contract with a qualified nursing facility to provide medicaid nursing facility services, that permit actual or constructive termination by the MCO without cause, for convenience, or termination without specifying the grounds for termination; requires the bureau of TennCare, in conjunction with the department of commerce and insurance, to review and approve all standard contract templates used by MCOs for facility contracting to ensure compliance. - Amends TCA Title 56; Title 68, Chapter 11 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

HB 2093 prevents managed care organizations (MCOs) from unilaterally ending contracts with qualified nursing facilities in Tennessee's TennCare program, except under specific circumstances. The bill gives the TennCare bureau exclusive authority to decide if a nursing facility can be terminated from the program, not the MCOs. MCOs must report concerns about facilities to the bureau instead of acting alone, and must continue services during the bureau's review. This changes how MCOs manage nursing facility contracts, ensuring only the bureau can approve terminations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents MCOs from unilaterally terminating nursing facility contracts, ensuring continuity of care and patient access under TennCare program oversight, aligning with healthcare protection indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2181: Public Employees - As introduced, requires, instead of authorizes, the state and local governments to provide fully paid health insurance coverage to the immediate family members of state and local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty on or after January 1, 2020; removes the two-year limitation on the state or local government's full payment of such coverage; adds that family members of officers who suffer catastrophic injuries on or after January 1, 2020, also qualify for such coverage; requires the state to reimburse local governments that provide such coverage. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27.

SB 2181 requires Tennessee state and local governments to provide fully paid health insurance to the immediate family members (spouses and children, including unborn children) of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty or suffering a catastrophic injury (as defined in the bill) on or after January 1, 2020. It removes a previous two-year limit on coverage duration and mandates that the state reimburse local governments for the full cost of providing this insurance. The bill expands existing coverage to include officers with catastrophic injuries (e.g., paralysis, severe burns, or brain injuries meeting SSDI criteria) and applies to both state and local law enforcement officers. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates fully paid health insurance for law enforcement families, expands coverage duration, and funds through state reimbursement - directly advancing healthcare access for specific beneficiaries.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 2619: Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies - As introduced, establishes the Tennessee commission of insurance review; prohibits a health insurance entity from offering or maintaining a health benefit plan that uses downcoding in a manner that prevents the provider from collecting the fee for actual services performed either from the health benefit plan or the patient; makes other changes related to health insurance and health insurers. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 56 and Title 71.

HB 2619 prohibits Tennessee health insurance companies from using "downcoding" to reduce payments to healthcare providers. Downcoding occurs when insurers adjust a claim to a lower-cost procedure code, preventing providers from collecting full fees for services rendered - either from the insurer or the patient. The bill creates the Tennessee Commission of Insurance Review to handle complaints and enforce this rule. It directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors and hospitals) and health insurance entities operating in Tennessee by requiring full payment for covered services as defined in the bill. The law amends Tennessee insurance codes to clarify these requirements and definitions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits downcoding by insurers to ensure healthcare providers collect full fees for services, directly protecting provider revenue and patient access to care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 2576: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, prohibits a pharmacy benefits manager from reimbursing a contracted pharmacy for a prescription drug or device or a pharmacy service in an amount that is less than the greatest of certain listed amounts and makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 56, Chapter 7 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

This bill requires Tennessee pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to reimburse pharmacies for prescription drugs at the highest of four specified amounts: the pharmacy's actual cost, 105% of the national drug cost average, the wholesale drug price, or the rate paid to their own affiliates. Pharmacies can appeal underpayments to the Department of Commerce and Insurance, and PBMs must pay double the owed amount if they fail to comply with the reimbursement minimums. The law directly affects independent pharmacies and PBMs by establishing enforceable payment standards and penalties for noncompliance, while prohibiting PBMs from deducting dispensing fees from reimbursements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires PBMs to reimburse pharmacies at minimum rates, preventing underpayment that could limit drug access and protect pharmacy viability, directly advancing patient access to medications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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failed · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2166: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As introduced, requires a blood bank to comply with a physician's order for an autologous blood donation or directed blood donation for a specific patient; requires a hospital to allow a patient who is scheduled for a medical procedure to provide an autologous blood donation or directed blood donation upon order of a physician. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 32.

HB 2166 requires blood banks to follow a physician's order for a patient's own blood donation (autologous) or a donation specifically designated for that patient (directed). It also mandates hospitals to permit such donations for patients scheduled for medical procedures, unless medically unsafe or incompatible with safety standards. The bill allows facilities to charge reasonable administrative fees but explicitly states it does not override existing federal or state blood safety, testing, or compatibility requirements. This directly affects patients needing scheduled procedures, blood banks, and hospitals by streamlining access to pre-donated blood while maintaining all current safety protocols.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires blood banks/hospitals to facilitate patient-specific blood donations, improving access to safe transfusions and protecting patient rights without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2436: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, requires a health insurance entity to approve a healthcare provider's completed credentialing application within two weeks of receipt when the healthcare provider is credentialed by the health insurance entity and relocates to a new practice group or facility that is also credentialed by the same health insurance entity. - Amends TCA Title 56, Chapter 7.

SB 2436 requires Tennessee health insurance companies to approve a healthcare provider’s credentialing application within two weeks when the provider relocates to a new practice group or facility that is already credentialed by the same insurer. This applies specifically to providers who were previously approved at their prior location and move to a new location within the insurer’s network. The bill creates a new rule (Section 56-7-1001(j)) that shortens the approval timeline for these specific relocation cases. It directly affects healthcare providers seeking to change practice locations within the same insurer’s network and the insurers themselves. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, for applications submitted on or after that date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to approve provider credentialing within 2 weeks for internal relocations, improving patient access to care without delays.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medical Licensing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 2579: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, increases, from 60 to 65 days prior to the effective date of the change, the required minimum notice that a health insurance entity must provide to a healthcare provider of any material change made in the sole discretion of the insurance entity to the entity's previously released provider manual or a reimbursement rule and policy. - Amends TCA Title 56, Chapter 7.

HB 2579 amends Tennessee law to require health insurance companies to provide healthcare providers with 65 days' notice - up from 60 days - before implementing any material changes to their provider manuals or reimbursement policies. This change directly affects healthcare providers who rely on timely notice to adjust billing, care coordination, and practice operations. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 56-7-3302(a)(1) to extend the notice period, ensuring providers have slightly more time to prepare for insurer policy updates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends insurance notice period from 60 to 65 days, giving providers more time to adjust operations, supporting healthcare provider stability and patient care continuity.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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died · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 2599: Disability and Aging, Dept. Of - As introduced, removes the termination date of the Alzheimer's and dementia respite care pilot program; removes the requirement that the program must actively serve up to 225 enrollees at one time in each fiscal year of the program's operation. - Amends TCA Title 52, Chapter 8, Part 2.

HB 2599 extends Tennessee's Alzheimer's and dementia respite care pilot program by removing its scheduled end date, allowing it to continue indefinitely without a sunset clause. It also eliminates a requirement that the program must serve no more than 225 participants in any given fiscal year. This change provides greater flexibility for the program to serve more individuals as needed, without a fixed enrollment cap. The bill directly impacts respite care services for people with Alzheimer's or dementia and their caregivers in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Alzheimer's respite care program indefinitely and removes enrollment cap, increasing access to healthcare services for dementia patients.95% confidence

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