Healthcare (Insurance)

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

Track

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

Track

signed · Tennessee · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 169: Insurance, Health, Accident - As enacted, expands the definition of a health benefit plan; requires a health benefit plan that amends, renews, or delivers a policy of coverage on or after January 1, 2026, and that provides coverage for prescription contraceptives, to provide coverage for a 12-month refill of contraceptives obtained at one time by an insured person. - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 71.

HB 169 requires health benefit plans in Tennessee that cover prescription contraceptives to provide a 12-month refill option for insured individuals, starting January 1, 2026. This applies to all health insurance plans (including TennCare and CoverKids programs) that renew or issue coverage after that date, directly affecting people with such plans who use contraceptives. The bill amends Tennessee law to define "health benefit plan" broadly and specifies that contraceptive coverage must include this extended refill option. It does not change existing contraceptive coverage requirements but adds a specific provision for 12-month supplies. The effective date was updated from 2024 to 2026 in the bill.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 12-month contraceptive refill coverage in health plans, expanding access to reproductive healthcare without requiring additional visits or prescriptions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1305: Health Care - As enacted, extends the CoverKids program from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030. - Amends TCA Section 71-3-1113.

SB 1305 extends Tennessee's CoverKids health insurance program for children by changing its expiration date from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030. This bill directly affects low-income children in Tennessee who qualify for the CoverKids program, ensuring continued access to health coverage. The key mechanism is amending Tennessee Code Annotated Section 71-3-1113 to update the program's termination date. The bill was signed into law on April 3, 2025, and became effective April 8, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends CoverKids health insurance program for low-income children, ensuring continued coverage access without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 440: Insurance, Health, Accident - As enacted, clarifies that excepted benefits are not part of a requirement to provide coverage for a specific person, provider, treatment, service, condition, or disease, unless coverage of such excepted benefits is expressly required by law. - Amends TCA Title 56.

SB 440 clarifies that standalone dental and vision insurance plans (known as "excepted benefits") are not required to cover specific medical treatments, services, or conditions unless state law explicitly mandates it. This change directly affects health insurance plans offering these stand-alone benefits, removing an implied obligation to cover certain medical needs under those plans. The law applies to all new or renewed insurance policies issued on or after July 1, 2025, ensuring clarity for insurers and policyholders. It does not alter existing coverage requirements for standard health insurance plans.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareClarifies standalone dental/vision plans aren't required to cover medical treatments unless mandated, reducing coverage obligations for specific health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 1382: Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies - As introduced, imposes requirements for health insurance issuers using artificial intelligence, algorithms, or other software for utilization review or utilization management functions. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 56 and Title 71.

HB 1382 requires health insurance companies, HMOs, and programs like TennCare to follow specific rules when using artificial intelligence or algorithms to review treatment requests (utilization management). It mandates that AI tools must base decisions on individual patient medical history and provider recommendations - not group data - and cannot override licensed doctors' evaluations of medical necessity. Insurers must disclose AI use in their policies, regularly review AI performance for accuracy, and ensure tools don’t discriminate or harm patients. This bill directly affects all Tennessee health insurance issuers using AI for treatment reviews, including major programs like TennCare and pharmacy benefits managers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates AI transparency and prevents override of physician decisions in insurance utilization review, protecting patient rights and ensuring individualized care.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates AI use in health insurance to prevent bias, mandate transparency, and protect patient decisions from algorithmic override - aligns with consumer tech regulation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 18, 2025

SB 555: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, requires a healthcare provider, healthcare group, practice, or clinic, healthcare facility, or other entity to provide notice to each health insurance entity with which it is under contract as soon as practicable if the healthcare provider, healthcare group, practice, or clinic, healthcare facility, or other entity is the subject of a cyber-attack. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68, Chapter 11 and Title 71.

SB 555 requires healthcare providers, clinics, facilities, and related entities in Tennessee to notify all health insurance companies they work with "as soon as practicable" if they experience a cyber-attack. This applies to any organization that contracts with insurers for patient care billing. The law mandates immediate notification to help insurers protect patient data and maintain billing systems during security incidents. It amends Tennessee health insurance codes (Titles 33, 56, 63, 68, and 71) to implement this requirement. The bill focuses solely on triggering timely communication about cyber incidents, not on preventing attacks or altering insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires healthcare entities to notify insurers of cyber-attacks to protect patient data, directly advancing data security in healthcare services per bill's intent.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates immediate cyber-attack notification to insurers to protect patient data, enhancing cybersecurity protocols per bill's core requirement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Primary Care

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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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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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signed · Tennessee · House May 14, 2026

HB 29: Chiropractors - As enacted, requires certain insurers to reimburse chiropractic physicians at the same rate as physicians for the same services. - Amends TCA Title 56, Chapter 7 and Title 63.

HB 29 requires health insurance companies to reimburse chiropractic physicians at the same rate as medical doctors for identical services, using the same payment methodology. It prohibits insurers from creating separate chiropractic codes or rates to avoid this requirement, applying to standard medical coding systems like CPT. The law directly affects chiropractors and insurers, but excludes state Medicaid (TennCare), CoverKids, and government-provided insurance. Key provisions mandate equal reimbursement calculations based on nationally recognized codes, with no impact on existing payment structures for exempt programs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to reimburse chiropractors equally to physicians for identical services, expanding access to chiropractic care under private insurance by mandating equal payment rates and prohibiting rate discrimination.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid