HB 2523, the "Maternal Health Care Protection Act," would prevent healthcare providers, institutions, and payers in Tennessee from refusing pregnancy-related care based on conscience objections. It bars providers from declining to perform or pay for services within their professional scope - such as emergency care, prenatal treatment, or standard obstetric care - and stops institutions from creating policies that deny such care. The bill specifically targets exemptions under the Medical Ethics Defense Act, ensuring patients cannot be denied essential pregnancy-related services due to personal beliefs. The bill is currently pending before the Population Health Subcommittee.
HB 2585 would cap noneconomic damages at $1 million in medical malpractice lawsuits involving obstetric or maternity negligence that causes a pregnant or postpartum woman's death or permanent injury. It directly affects patients (or their families) who might file such lawsuits and healthcare providers facing these claims. The bill amends Tennessee law to limit compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress (noneconomic damages) to $1 million in these specific cases, while leaving economic damages (like medical bills) unaffected. This is a concrete policy change to restrict damage awards in a defined subset of medical liability cases.
SB 2287 requires Tennessee's Medicaid program (TennCare) to create a method for setting birthing center reimbursement rates that match hospital rates for similar services, with annual increases tied to hospital rate changes. It also directs the state health department to prioritize allocating federal rural health grant funds to birthing centers in rural counties, and to second priority to urban centers serving rural residents without local birthing options. This bill directly affects birthing centers (especially in rural areas) and Medicaid beneficiaries who use these services. The key changes are concrete: standardized reimbursement rates and targeted grant funding to improve access to maternity care in underserved regions.
SB 2510, the "Maternal Health Care Protection Act," prohibits healthcare providers, institutions, and payers from refusing to provide or pay for pregnancy-related care based on conscience objections. It directly affects medical professionals, hospitals, and insurance companies by requiring them to offer services like emergency care, diagnosis of pregnancy complications, and standard obstetric care within their professional scope. The bill amends Tennessee law to remove existing conscience exemptions for these specific services, ensuring providers cannot deny care due to personal beliefs. This applies to all pregnant patients, defined as individuals who are pregnant or reasonably believed to be pregnant, regardless of gestational age.
SB 2586 establishes new regulations for stem cell therapies in Tennessee, directly affecting physicians and facilities providing these treatments. It requires stem cells used in therapy to be retrieved, manufactured, and stored only in facilities registered with the FDA and accredited by specific organizations like the American Association of Tissue Banks. The bill mandates that physicians disclose in advertisements that the therapy is not FDA-approved and must use products meeting federal manufacturing standards. It explicitly excludes therapies using cells derived from fetuses or embryos after abortion. The law aims to ensure safety through facility accreditation, viability testing, and clear patient disclosures.
SB 2621 caps noneconomic damages at $1 million in medical malpractice lawsuits involving obstetric or maternity negligence that causes the death or permanent injury of a pregnant or postpartum woman. It directly affects patients, families, and healthcare providers in Tennessee by limiting compensation for non-monetary harms like pain and suffering in these specific cases. The bill amends Tennessee law to override existing damage award rules for health care liability actions under Title 29, Chapter 26. This change applies only to cases meeting the defined criteria of negligence resulting in death or permanent injury during pregnancy or postpartum care. The legislation does not affect economic damages (such as medical bills) or other types of medical malpractice claims.
HB 1943 requires Tennessee hospital emergency departments to provide a medical screening exam to pregnant women reporting active labor or an emergency medical condition, without denial or delay. It prohibits transferring a pregnant woman to another facility unless her condition is stabilized (per federal EMTALA standards) and mandates that transfers only occur with a physician's written certification of medical necessity and the patient's informed consent. The bill directly affects pregnant women seeking emergency care and hospitals operating emergency departments, imposing penalties for violations like denying screenings or transferring without proper authorization. Key provisions include requiring hospitals to offer stabilization treatment or a safe transfer option, documenting patient consent for refusals, and ensuring transfers meet federal guidelines for specialized care. This legislation aligns Tennessee's emergency care protocols for pregnant patients with existing federal emergency medical treatment laws.
SB 1701 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to establish a database tracking demographic information (such as race and age) and treatment options for women diagnosed with uterine fibroids, to be available by January 1, 2027. The database will be used solely for research and must protect patient privacy under confidentiality laws. Additionally, the department must publish existing educational resources online highlighting racial disparities in diagnosis and non-hysterectomy treatment options to increase public awareness of uterine fibroids. This bill directly affects women with uterine fibroids and healthcare providers by improving access to relevant health information.
HB 2053 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to create a database tracking demographic information (like race/ethnicity) and treatment options for women diagnosed with uterine fibroids, to be operational by January 1, 2027. The department must also publish educational resources on its website highlighting racial/ethnic groups at higher risk for uterine fibroids and non-hysterectomy treatment options. All data will be maintained confidentially under health privacy laws. This bill directly affects women with uterine fibroids by improving access to condition-specific information and care options.
HB 1105 would amend Tennessee law to create a legal exception for physicians performing abortions when the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest, as defined by specific Tennessee statutes. This exception applies only to licensed doctors who perform or attempt to perform the abortion, and it would prevent criminal charges for the physician in those specific circumstances. The bill directly affects licensed physicians who provide abortions in cases of rape or incest and their patients in those situations. It does not change general abortion restrictions but adds a specific defense for physicians in these defined cases.
