[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6325426,"mediaKeyId","2333425-40dccae29aebfee7730df5ae83785f22","parentId",2333425,"title","Subcommittee advances bill to broaden TennCare medical-necessity factors for high-need home care cases","audioSeconds",534,"startMs",1442000,"endMs",1976000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333425-40dccae29aebfee7730df5ae83785f22&start=1442&end=1976","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333425-40dccae29aebfee7730df5ae83785f22/thumbnail_1442000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325426/Tennessee/Subcommittee-advances-bill-to-broaden-TennCare-medical-necessity-factors-for-high-need-home-care-cases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325426-d05acb362d3a8980c7b84c1e1b2bc016/orig.mp4?Expires=1770928900&Signature=HDGyff8eUjCeI1tVL~QC1G8dN29cQfET9JsRWhIRaZFWD8i1X9quWby8P~ACMmJpOE7MFUrjl9kl9uMXPmUHN9At7wzNRd8GEwZ5Rm7uUWlvN9b6X8uvVayRmOS93aK~y07Wr0ZYiDyokKNidGpn4qBOUMoBPwlOAucd8J75T72JSGaZGI~9QAA8eitDh7izskHFlkGDnS~KEtRvnGfOq6uI9rMjHLZjtvsprmqf73buNxRjy43txAAW11lfvMgZX6Uej-7ytkjYK5OCf3iQvBmSmE2F1~-0fWGr2wMjzKtYUo74YGSccaRHcpUMWxLJZiOWVDYf2d25N32CglzYbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Alexander described House Bill 364 and urged committee members to consider broader medical-necessity factors for certain high-need patients; committee members expressed support but noted fiscal concerns.

\"This bill says when making a determination, a medical necessity, the bureau shall take into considerations the patient's overall condition and use such overall conditions as a factor to determine the level of funding and what medical items and services the patient receives,\" Representative Alexander said. He told the committee about a constituent identified as Emma who became severely disabled after an illness in college and whose family provides 24-hour home care.

Alexander said Emma was previously funded by TennCare because she required a ventilator for 12 hours; after she weaned to 8 hours, funding was cut despite continued need for full-time care (suctioning, trach care, repositioning and constant supervision). The sponsor said the bill would require a comprehensive medical review that \"includes, but not limited to, the consideration of a patient's mobility or ability to move and turn, the patient's cognitive awareness and ability to communicate, the patient's need for constant nursing supervision, and the patient's need for a ventilator or other life sustaining equipment like a trach.\" He urged affirmative votes for what he called \"our most vulnerable patients.\"

Representative Parkson acknowledged the human need and said fiscal implications were a concern: \"I'm looking at this, you know, this fiscal note and, you know, it's it's a little bit of, well, quite a bit of money actually... I hope we can get hope they they give this some real consideration when it comes to the budget and when it comes to finance so we get this over the over the hump. And I'll I'll be voting for it.\" Other members praised the bill and asked whether the sponsor had consulted the administration; Representative Alexander said he had spoken with administration leaders and with Chairman Hicks in prior discussions.

The committee voted to advance House Bill 364 to the full Insurance Committee. The transcript records committee agreement to move the bill but does not include a clerk-reported tally in the record excerpt.

Members emphasized the fiscal note will be the main hurdle in later consideration; no specific dollar amounts or fiscal estimates were provided during the committee exchange in the transcript excerpt.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tenncare Subcommittee\tFeb 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Alexander described House Bill 364 and urged committee members to consider broader medical-necessity factors for certain high-need patients; committee members expressed support but noted fiscal concerns.","taxTitle","Tenncare Subcommittee, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",79847,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325431,"Subcommittee advances bill to add Kleefstra syndrome to TennCare coverage list",265,1166000,1431000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333425-40dccae29aebfee7730df5ae83785f22&start=1166&end=1431","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333425-40dccae29aebfee7730df5ae83785f22/thumbnail_1166000.jpg","/articles/6325431/Tennessee/Subcommittee-advances-bill-to-add-Kleefstra-syndrome-to-TennCare-coverage-list","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325431-ff3ba78944996b01318db42527d9bcda/orig.mp4?Expires=1770928900&Signature=oOXuHBdAg5AdtRC-di5wDcToNMYJaH84zdj7O93Qv-DXGtAjXSTRwvucrj2l-kz~hv8AUVBI-3aalfW07-vHr1OgiO~SmuOoDrXA9hwvE~gmb3aYqnyIHGGmaqbkfhEe4leQi5KDJs5rnBuI918jgxPSV-pNdvjXaG0tc0H0l0PtTFGPiFkXlHecvqtud9mg5e-lKVl8aji6zjGDN3EfWV0O37AMvq8lKW~w~dMXBnER41cf-zGH9AmaEmufcsTuomvBcN5YstwbcMQzBeapLViWZxohkxOzva5qy40yrbefKaHqybo6ZJnQn-46jOHhbx0EUGczwB5cpE3MBi3BJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairlady Littleton explained House Bill 502 and won unanimous committee support to send it to the full Insurance Committee.

\"As amended, this authorizes the division of TennCare to provide coverage and benefits on behalf of an enrollee for the diagnosis including genetic testing and the treatment of kleistra syndrome in the same manner and to the same extent that the division provides coverage for autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and other similar or related genetic disorders when determined to be medically necessary,\" Chairlady Littleton said.

The bill, as Chairlady Littleton described it, would make Kleefstra syndrome — a rare genetic disorder she said is characterized by intellectual disability, childhood hypotonia, severe expressive speech delay and distinctive facial appearances — explicitly eligible for TennCare coverage on the same terms used today for autism and Down syndrome. Littleton said families in her district asked for the designation; she told the committee there are \"only 8 of these in the state of Tennessee and less than a thousand across the United States.\" She added, \"they want it to be described as Kleefstra instead of autism or Down syndrome,\" so they may receive the same services under TennCare.

Committee members approved an amendment identified in the record as Amendment 3665; the amendment was described in the hearing as changing wording from \"shall\" to (transcript) \"me.\" The committee then voted to advance the bill. Madam Clerk reported a 6-0 vote in favor.

The subcommittee took the action without further changes to benefits or service levels; Littleton said the bill does not change the services TennCare provides but clarifies that Kleefstra syndrome should be identified and treated the same as other named genetic disorders when medically necessary. The measure now goes to the full Insurance Committee for further consideration.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 502 — amendment 3665 adopted; committee vote reported as 6 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: advanced to full Insurance Committee.","The TennCare Subcommittee voted unanimously to advance House Bill 502, which directs the TennCare Division to provide diagnosis and treatment coverage for Kleefstra syndrome in the same manner as autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome.","actionData","errors"]

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Subcommittee advances bill to broaden TennCare medical-necessity factors for high-need home care cases

Subcommittee advances bill to add Kleefstra syndrome to TennCare coverage list