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TennesseeHB 0979114th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to health care.

Sponsored By: Ryan Williams (Republican)

Became Law

Health Care

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Licensing rules for anesthesiologist assistants

Beginning January 1, 2026, you must hold a Board of Medical Examiners license to work as an anesthesiologist assistant or use titles like "C.A.A." or "A.A.". Unlicensed practice or title use is a Class 8 misdemeanor, with up to a $1,000 fine or up to one year in jail per offense. The board sets qualifications, fees, and continuing education; investigates complaints; and can grant, deny, renew, suspend, or revoke licenses. To get a full license, you must graduate from an accredited program and pass a board‑approved exam; the board may issue a one‑year temporary license to program graduates who take the next exam. Assistants must work under an anesthesiologist who is immediately available, and supervising doctors may not use unlicensed people as assistants; violating supervision rules is a Class B misdemeanor. The board can discipline licensees and may issue a new license after revocation when the person shows rehabilitation, usually not sooner than two years.

New hospital doctor hiring rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, hospitals and their affiliates may hire licensed physicians under new rules. In counties with 105,000 people or fewer (2020 Census), a hospital may employ licensed physicians. In larger counties, hospitals may not employ radiologists, anesthesiologists, pathologists, or emergency physicians, except children’s hospitals may hire them if the doctor is board certified or board eligible. A research hospital may hire radiologists, anesthesiologists, and pathologists like other doctors if at least 50% of last year’s inpatients were treated under research protocols. The law also keeps permission for physician groups and certain 501(c)(3) nonprofits tied to an in‑state medical school, whose physician‑employees practice through a faculty practice plan or a wholly owned subsidiary, to employ physicians. It further says osteopathic physicians in the barred specialties cannot be employed unless an existing statutory exception applies.

Protections for doctors and Medicare billing

Beginning July 1, 2025, employers that hire doctors cannot block medically appropriate diagnosis or treatment. They may limit referrals only if three things are true: the doctor agreed in writing in the contract, the limit will not harm the patient in the doctor’s judgment, and the employer tells the patient. In a dispute, the employer must prove the restriction. Also starting July 1, 2025, hospitals that employ anesthesiologists must set supervision and staffing so those doctors can meet Medicare payment rules for anesthesia when those rules apply. Hospitals may still use other Medicare payment paths, including medical supervision.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ryan Williams

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • G.A. Hardaway

    Democrat • House

  • Antonio Parkinson

    Democrat • House

  • Rick Scarbrough

    Republican • House

  • Dawn White

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 285 • No: 22

Senate vote • 4/22/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt Conference Committee Report 4/22/2025

Yes: 31 • No: 0

House vote • 4/22/2025

FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4/22/2025

Yes: 79 • No: 10

Senate vote • 4/21/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/21/2025

Yes: 31 • No: 1

House vote • 4/16/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/16/2025

Yes: 72 • No: 5

House vote • 4/16/2025

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2025

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Yes: 23 • No: 3

House vote • 4/14/2025

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 11 • No: 0

House vote • 4/7/2025

HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

Yes: 11 • No: 1

House vote • 4/1/2025

HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE

Yes: 21 • No: 1

House vote • 3/19/2025

HOUSE HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 6 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 509

    5/27/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 05/21/2025, 07/01/2025, 01/01/2026

    5/27/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/21/2025

  4. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    5/9/2025House

  5. Signed by Senate Speaker

    5/8/2025Senate

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/30/2025House

  7. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

    4/25/2025House

  8. H. Placed on Message Calendar 3 for 4/22/2025

    4/22/2025House

  9. H. nonconcurred in S. am. no. 1 & 2 HB0979

    4/22/2025House

  10. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/22/2025House

  11. Senate refused to recede from its non-concurrence in House Amendments 1 & 2

    4/22/2025Senate

  12. H. Placed on Message Calendar 4 for 4/22/2025

    4/22/2025House

  13. H. refused to recede from its non-concurrence in SA 1 & 2

    4/22/2025House

  14. Conference Committee appointed (Williams, Terry, Farmer, B. Martin, Shaw)

    4/22/2025Senate

  15. Conference Committee appointed.

    4/22/2025Senate

  16. Conf. comm. report adopted, Ayes 79, Nays 10 PNV 6

    4/22/2025House

  17. Conference Committee report adopted, Ayes 31, Nays 0

    4/22/2025Senate

  18. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    4/21/2025Senate

  19. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0264)

    4/21/2025Senate

  20. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0317)

    4/21/2025Senate

  21. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 31, Nays 1, PNV 1

    4/21/2025Senate

  22. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    4/17/2025Senate

  23. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0248)

    4/16/2025House

  24. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/16/2025House

  25. Passed H., as am., Ayes 72, Nays 5, PNV 11

    4/16/2025House

Bill Text

  • HA0248 (Substitute)

    4/16/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • SA0264

    PDF

  • SA0317

    PDF

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