Tennessee House Bill HB1503

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/23
• Refer: 2/2/23
• Refer: 3/7/23
• Refer: 3/14/23
• Refer: 3/20/23
• Refer: 3/29/23
• Refer: 4/11/23
• Chaptered: 5/17/23
• Passed: 5/17/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to health care.

Impact

The impact of HB 1503 is significant, as it seeks to enhance consumer protection within the healthcare system by establishing clearer requirements for managed health insurance issuers. By enforcing stricter guidelines on network adequacy, the bill aims to prevent situations where consumers encounter unexpectedly high out-of-network costs. Additionally, it equips the commissioner of commerce and insurance with the authority to impose corrective actions if network inadequacies are identified, which bolsters regulatory oversight.

Summary

House Bill 1503 aims to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to health care, specifically focusing on the adequacy of healthcare provider networks used by managed health insurance issuers. The bill mandates that these issuers file detailed descriptions of their network adequacy standards and report significant changes to their network plans. The intent behind this legislation is to ensure that consumers have adequate access to in-network providers, thus reducing out-of-pocket costs and enhancing care continuity.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 1503 is generally supportive, particularly among consumer advocacy groups who view it as a positive step towards safeguarding patient rights and ensuring access to necessary healthcare services. However, some opposition may come from insurance providers who could view the increased regulatory requirements as burdensome or challenging to comply with. Overall, the discussions seem to reflect a consensus on the importance of improving market standards for network adequacy.

Contention

Notable points of contention may arise regarding the implementation and operationalization of these standards. Stakeholders such as healthcare providers and insurers might contest specific provisions that require comprehensive reporting and continual updates to network plans. Moreover, the bill's requirement for the commissioner to develop an appeals process for addressing concerns regarding network adequacy might lead to debates over what constitutes sufficient access and how compliance with the standards will be measured and enforced.