Tennessee House Bill HB2866

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/24
• Refer: 2/5/24
• Refer: 3/26/24
• Refer: 4/3/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33; Title 49 and Title 63, relative to incentivizing the provision of mental health care.

Impact

If implemented, the findings of this bill could significantly influence the landscape of mental health care provision in Tennessee. By establishing a study aimed at understanding how to effectively encourage students to enter the mental health profession, the bill not only seeks to tackle current shortages of mental health professionals but also aims to improve the overall quality of mental health services provided across the state. The report generated by this study is required to be submitted by December 31, 2024, ensuring timely action on the results.

Summary

House Bill 2866 aims to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Titles 33, 49, and 63, with a focus on incentivizing the provision of mental health care. The bill directs the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to conduct a study analyzing existing state programs that incentivize students to pursue careers in mental health care. This study is expected to include an assessment of similar programs utilized in contiguous states and present recommendations for developing a robust program within Tennessee.

Contention

While the bill has the potential for positive implications regarding student engagement in mental health careers, there may be concerns regarding funding, the feasibility of proposed incentives, and the capacity of the existing infrastructure to support new programs. Stakeholders may debate the best approaches for integrating the recommendations into current state policies and how to sustain the momentum built through the study findings.