[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6106654,"mediaKeyId","2779754-a4bd0b1660913a0448f4ec041daa77d8","parentId",2779754,"title","Votes at a glance: Tennessee House Health Subcommittee, March 26, 2025","audioSeconds",1827,"startMs",509000,"endMs",2336000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779754-a4bd0b1660913a0448f4ec041daa77d8&start=509&end=2336","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779754-a4bd0b1660913a0448f4ec041daa77d8/thumbnail_509000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6106654/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-Tennessee-House-Health-Subcommittee-March-26-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106654-420f24620d8771e527c31a8a0de0e0c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453990&Signature=e9zQRBfUjtcRFg-pPmPZfFgWrQkZWZ-4XWQCto~qMe028sVgLXVlpQ8pn6h~rYBWkpEQU73l4kLIdnjkfM3cpbaforwUqDNB7zp2qTN-945QIBxccNEnzk0B8RdC61KFGEtwelC2CWpzHTz4OV4nBdLaES7bF~byGq6bM~9j9-K8gAtapslUymEVTg1TiBKuNIwipJAlb~PKLdNQZaRPtujVpAqpG-7yh01t0jtNRW5oace5PVxzz03~0XrkmvDjpkvZZ02lYuWHpovbi6~hdFOQMb6sr2WEGMM0v020sVE4SOjUGTVfWF-Ao31SnDI18sSMUuvgJdyol~i2pu5Oqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","The House Health Subcommittee recorded the following formal actions on March 26, 2025. Items are listed by bill number, short description, committee action and the recorded roll count when provided.

- House Bill 865 (Ballad Health nursing pipeline): Adopted amendment and advanced to full Health Committee. Clerk reported 9 ayes, 0 nays.

- House Bill 996 (prescribing psychologists): Referred to summer study after full testimony; clerk reported 9 ayes, 0 nays (referral to study rather than immediate advancement).

- House Bill 1141 (Health Facilities Commission recertification and block‑grant waiver study): Advanced to full Health Committee; clerk reported 8 ayes, 0 nays.

- House Bill 638 (prohibiting TennCare denials based on immunization status): Amendment adopted to exempt oncology, transplant and immunocompromised care; advanced to full Health Committee. Roll vote: 6 ayes, 2 nays, 1 present not voting.

- House Bill 1349 (autopsy testing and study following mass shootings): Advanced to full Health Committee. Clerk recorded 9 ayes, 0 nays.

- House Bill 1351 (recovery residences certification standards): Amendment adopted to require nationally recognized certification and departmental approval; advanced to full Health Committee. Roll vote: 9 ayes, 0 nays.

- House Bill 960 (continuing education for maternal mental health): Advanced to full Health Committee. Roll vote: 9 ayes, 0 nays.

- House Bill 819 (removal of CON for acute‑care hospitals): Advanced to full Health Committee after debate; clerk recorded 5 ayes, 1 nay, 3 present not voting.

- House Bill 1396 (guaranteed basic income/automation relief): Sponsor asked to table and roll the bill to the first calendar next year; motion carried by voice vote to roll the bill to the first calendar for the next session.

Votes recorded by the clerk as announced in committee were used for these summaries. Where amendments were announced on the record, the summaries note the adopted changes. Several bills had extended public testimony before the committee voted.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Health Subcommittee Mar 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal votes and outcomes taken by the House Health Subcommittee on March 26, 2025, including referrals, amendments adopted and measures advanced to the full Health Committee or other next steps.","taxTitle","Health, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",35345,"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},6106658,"Committee backs bill barring TennCare reimbursement denial over immunization status, with carve‑outs for specialty care",677,2581000,3258000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779754-a4bd0b1660913a0448f4ec041daa77d8&start=2581&end=3258","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779754-a4bd0b1660913a0448f4ec041daa77d8/thumbnail_2581000.jpg","/articles/6106658/Tennessee/Committee-backs-bill-barring-TennCare-reimbursement-denial-over-immunization-status-with-carveouts-for-specialty-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106658-fbe5a395ba6c2210361cd07a884c46c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453990&Signature=ksRRmMOY43CybuK~3EA4KWVdVjN0kngiQwuE7nkGHqcn9YTrRH9sQj2cOCY1kI2JCpmcwr2iG766mbJ9V51DenaCQjrFkfUZcLJEjiyHAxxHS80fkM3Uwix-jVi~H6g0n-tTd8~qYrP-Gp7DAmrwdEowyQXWz5~yaP-pCv9U-H0sn8a990RAVEBkwF3p1MJajkesQw5jL84TOu8mlTVti5No4JQ1NtQmNS--AINjRjAKkGU5HJfo6NPx-LRuI~3GCOMkLat~o-DVmKkwQaOCtXrFSmUxBhQlI6GltWfZloWl~u7SdvSLsouX-lRbxEqEm6rXFxEW2NDYi7uPZCocgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Health Subcommittee on Wednesday approved House Bill 638, a bill that would prohibit providers from denying care to TennCare or CoverKids enrollees solely because they are unvaccinated.

The sponsor said the bill mirrors recent legislation from Texas and is intended to protect low‑income families from losing access to essential care because of their personal immunization choices. The sponsor told the committee that CHIP (the Children’s Health Insurance Program) does not require immunizations and that the bill would make refusal to treat based solely on immunization status a TennCare reimbursement violation.

Representative McKenzie questioned whether a practice could forfeit its TennCare payments for refusing to treat, noting concerns about providers who maintain separate sick and well rooms to shield high‑risk patients. The sponsor said the amendment exempts oncology, organ‑transplant services and care for patients who are immunocompromised by disease or treatment.

Representative Mitchell urged caution and recalled Tennessee's previously high childhood immunization ranking, noting, \"We were number 1 in childhood immunizations to now we're 35th in the nation,\" and warned that the state should protect public health. The sponsor responded that the bill preserves parental choice — including existing religious or moral exemptions — while preventing denial of TennCare services based only on immunization status.

Representative Hill moved the previous question; the clerk recorded 6 ayes, 2 nays and 1 present not voting. The chair announced that House Bill 638 moves on to Health Full.","House Bill 638, prohibiting TennCare reimbursement denials or refusal to treat based solely on a patient's immunization status, passed the Health Subcommittee after debate over exceptions for oncology, transplants and immunocompromised patients.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106663,"Subcommittee backs standards for recovery residences, requires national certification and oversight",432,3577000,4009000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779754-a4bd0b1660913a0448f4ec041daa77d8&start=3577&end=4009","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779754-a4bd0b1660913a0448f4ec041daa77d8/thumbnail_3577000.jpg","/articles/6106663/Tennessee/Subcommittee-backs-standards-for-recovery-residences-requires-national-certification-and-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106663-a7c5888ac8b56dc58d50fa9ed7cf77ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453990&Signature=TeKfDjYqfjLcc7vIEtQskcS3kqol3n-65DWHYaMmQEMxkMrRLvqZF0ZDtX27EkAFOobXBLmYj1Tk3Md~7qmm5MiL0w~WYvRHZKFiraUPblSVZwq3KbVB-Fi7pCCmc3ZF87paSydcAA6ole6LF4iwI~gM54HUFdO83ddlBkfKevrMXw6vyiSfw8ffcg9zxGmktkwjMA0uPceJphOovoJTbW6ZkXU9JAXMxVxMj76rpSVuzHPZuIcAYW996jfHcfwy0onMQPfQazl6yyqgm2H6GCFdIBDczjaYUATEKaNC6PJt5LeB4aZy4P1qtmSs-smUSzsWrF-amenxz18Rug4apw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Health Subcommittee voted unanimously to advance House Bill 1351, which requires organizations that certify recovery residences to adopt minimum standards and tasks the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services with selecting and approving organizations that meet those standards.

Chairlady Littleton, sponsor of the bill, said she had worked extensively with providers and local officials in drafting the measure. The amendment before the committee requires adoption of nationally recognized recovery residence certification standards and directs the department to approve organizations that meet those standards.

Supporters — including Representative Terry and other members who described long negotiations with stakeholders — said the bill strikes a balance between protecting neighbors and ensuring people in recovery have access to homes that provide services and oversight. Representative Hicks said he had seen successful recovery houses where residents formed supportive communities; he said, \"they become family.\"

Representative Mitchell sought assurances about Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and fairness in housing; the sponsor said the amended bill was intended to respect federal protections and work with the Department of Mental Health to avoid unintended consequences. Commissioner Williams (Department of Mental Health) told the committee the measure would \"shine a light on just how big this number is across our state\" and indicated the department would help ensure qualified treatment and oversight.

The clerk recorded 9 ayes, 0 nays. The bill now moves to the full House Health Committee for further consideration.","House Bill 1351, requiring nationally recognized certification standards for recovery residences and giving the Department of Mental Health oversight of minimum standards, passed the House Health Subcommittee unanimously and moves on to the full Health Committee.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106667,"House subcommittee advances bill to lift certificate‑of‑need for hospitals amid rural access debate",655,2531000,3186000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779754-a4bd0b1660913a0448f4ec041daa77d8&start=2531&end=3186","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779754-a4bd0b1660913a0448f4ec041daa77d8/thumbnail_2531000.jpg","/articles/6106667/Tennessee/House-subcommittee-advances-bill-to-lift-certificateofneed-for-hospitals-amid-rural-access-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106667-760d590952abb88aa64d5dcf95f69eba/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453990&Signature=Sifdlxw-TAoHJn~zXoiavXYcs~yxl2Oxv-LCqlGrggPy6yqDW7FQIn4eLHrDMmWHx2sGdKo1eCmYq7kSKT0QyxUXh6oEaeINws9hTpha35zfyWPPlQmGtmusrg1IG~P~DHOS0Zeg1ncnM7Yk1zV7YXZW0kOUps8EZTGvToN6gQeU2ss1peOyN1w7vz7EeVhkbkHJz6nFANEVMVLEzZTqoeWv9iuu~MG~POn6VOiO05xoEwti-wuZDct4wK5rpbirgGiICRRs39jhew7IozirkvPKsLSY6Vu2yG6uW6Ilwp0EpVucWHK1RxiyOr1MvWfcomyJz~7-9cgdXYKYYfvVYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Health Subcommittee on Wednesday approved House Bill 819, a measure that would eliminate certificate‑of‑need (CON) requirements for acute‑care hospitals, advancing it to the full House Health Committee despite pointed debate over rural hospital stability.

Proponents, including legal advocates and some hospital executives, argued that removing CON for acute care would reduce barriers to needed hospitals and speed access to services. Killeen Lindgren of the Pacific Legal Foundation, which litigates constitutional and regulatory cases, told the subcommittee that four decades of research show CON laws correlate with fewer hospitals, higher costs and reduced services. \"The average patient in a CON state has access to 30% fewer hospitals,\" Lindgren said, citing peer‑reviewed summaries.

Hospital representatives and rural leaders urged caution. Lacey Blair of the Tennessee Hospital Association and Frida (Bridal) Russell, chief administrative officer of Ascension Saint Thomas Three Rivers and Waverly, warned that abrupt removal of CON protections could destabilize small rural hospitals, which rely on carefully tailored services and affiliations to remain solvent. \"No vote on House Bill 819 protects Tennessee hospitals, rural communities, and the patients who rely on them,\" Russell said.

Charlotte Burns, a retired rural CEO and current HCA TriStar executive with extensive CON and licensing board experience, supported advancing the bill and argued that elimination would not trigger a proliferation of hospitals in rural markets. \"Elimination of CON for acute care hospitals will not result in a proliferation of hospitals,\" Burns said, and called for quicker access to care and reduced costs associated with the CON process.

Representative Garrett, sponsor of the measure, said he planned to keep the bill in full committee for further discussion and work, acknowledging the complexity and the need for more data on payer mix and local impacts. After debate, the clerk recorded 5 ayes, 1 nay and 3 present‑not‑voting; the subcommittee's chair announced, \"House Bill 819 moves on to Health Full.\" Supporters asked for follow‑up work; opponents asked that the phased CON reforms passed in 2024 be allowed to take effect before further changes.

The vote reflected divided views among hospital systems, rural providers and legal advocates over whether CON is a public‑health protection or an outdated barrier to competition and access. The bill now proceeds to the full House Health Committee, where members said they intend to continue examining payer‑mix safeguards and other transitional protections for rural providers.","Representative Garrett's bill to remove acute‑care hospitals from Tennessee's certificate‑of‑need (CON) process advanced out of the House Health Subcommittee after divided testimony from hospital leaders, rural providers and legal experts. The panel voted 5‑1 with three present not voting to send the measure to the full Health Committee.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":46,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106671,"Tennessee health panel pauses bill to let trained psychologists prescribe, sends it to summer study",1752,584000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779754-a4bd0b1660913a0448f4ec041daa77d8&start=584&end=2336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779754-a4bd0b1660913a0448f4ec041daa77d8/thumbnail_584000.jpg","/articles/6106671/Tennessee/Tennessee-health-panel-pauses-bill-to-let-trained-psychologists-prescribe-sends-it-to-summer-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106671-742e01077af103daf1921ae4add62ca2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453990&Signature=WkHKv48lHT8F4moV-8Y5~oDZYUYmJrygY5aVKvJl1HOlSnpwvuSESybfqxFklBTEIIV8GvMQsYIVtq-Tjgf0j1qYvMqxoWpXUHakRjOTMQw6gG5k0rgZCF-Kcj6Sef3ShXUrH-EbfRkdeoBsNIeQy7M181u5qYPCu~wJtS0boBZ8PEMYNvR4aabSRansqHuEkW-DjsHaPN6KwtjtFkQFV~GV1z0ktWumZt6CTEGSbaIZDP6QRJokCDMaxIoCrBDybgb2lYI4o0JoZUCZKWdnd1YTJC2cOa4PvkxlLWpsEbWMyuWemuFZSl1Xjd1PKGvEGdmGbO-yiYEfRD8dC-JXiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House Health Subcommittee on Wednesday voted to send House Bill 996 to summer study after more than an hour of testimony from clinicians, advocates and medical organizations.

Proponents said the measure would expand access to psychiatric care by allowing psychologists with a doctoral degree and a postdoctoral credential in psychopharmacology to prescribe a restricted set of medications after supervised practice. Opponents, including the Tennessee Psychiatric Association and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Tennessee, urged caution and warned of safety risks.

Dr. Jason Anthes, a board‑certified child and adolescent psychiatrist who said he has supervised prescribing psychologists in the Department of Defense, told the committee, \"I've seen it work.\" Anthes said prescribing psychologists can both diagnose and \"choose or not choose medications when appropriate,\" and pointed to data he described as showing lower adverse drug reactions and better outcomes.

Dr. Roger Clark, who identified himself as a psychologist and a prescriber in a Department of Defense child and family clinic, emphasized workforce shortages. \"Right now, it's hard to get in to see almost any mental health,\" Clark said, noting a statewide shortage of psychiatrists and saying prescribing psychologists can help address access and deprescribing needs.

Opponents delivered forceful warnings. Dr. Michelle Cochran, a board‑certified psychiatrist who said she is president of the Tennessee Psychiatric Association and chief medical officer at a physician‑owned psychiatry practice, said the association and several medical societies \"collectively oppose this bill\" and called it \"dangerous,\" arguing psychologists lack the same medical training as physicians, psychiatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Katrina Gay of NAMI Tennessee told the committee the organization and its members oppose expanding prescribing authority: \"We respectfully ask that you vote no on House Bill 996,\" she said, noting families' lived experience with mental illness and concerns about medical complexity.

Committee members expressed interest in more data and in hearing additional stakeholder input. Representative Williams and other members said they wanted deeper study of safety, outcomes and training standards. Representative Martin moved and the subcommittee seconded a referral to summer study; the clerk recorded 9 ayes, 0 nays. The subcommittee's vote sends HB 996 to a study process over the summer to gather more evidence and stakeholder recommendations before lawmakers take further action.

The motion to refer does not change the bill text; it directs further review. Supporters argued the additional training model mirrors programs in military and VA settings; opponents emphasized differences between those environments and Tennessee's civilian health system and questioned whether the state should alter prescriber qualifications without stronger evidence and guardrails.

The committee heard multiple witnesses from both support and opposition lists, including military clinicians who described 30 years of experience with prescribing psychologists and local psychiatrists and advocacy groups who urged rejection or slower study. Members said they expected to solicit additional written materials and invite stakeholders back for follow‑up during the summer study period.

The subcommittee did not adopt technical statutory language changes at the hearing; rather it voted to collect more information and consider draft changes later.","After hours of testimony both for and against, the House Health Subcommittee voted to send House Bill 996 — which would allow certain specially trained psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications — to summer study so members can gather more data and stakeholder input.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Tennessee House Health Subcommittee, March 26, 2025

Committee backs bill barring TennCare reimbursement denial over immunization status, with carve‑outs for specialty care

Subcommittee backs standards for recovery residences, requires national certification and oversight

House subcommittee advances bill to lift certificate‑of‑need for hospitals amid rural access debate

Tennessee health panel pauses bill to let trained psychologists prescribe, sends it to summer study