Tennessee House Bill HB0484

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/28/25
• Refer: 2/5/25
• Refer: 3/12/25
• Refer: 3/19/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 56 and Title 71, relative to coverage of biomarker testing.

Impact

The proposed legislation is expected to significantly influence health insurance practices within Tennessee, particularly those relating to disease management and treatment protocols. By requiring insurers to cover biomarker tests, the bill seeks to enhance personalized medicine approaches, potentially leading to more effective treatment strategies for patients. The inclusion of conditions for coverage based on FDA approval and clinical guidelines ensures that the mandates align with current medical standards, thus protecting both insurers and patients.

Summary

House Bill 0484 aims to amend Tennessee's code to mandate coverage for biomarker testing by health insurers for contracts that take effect on or after January 1, 2026. Biomarker testing is defined broadly to include assessments of a patient's biological indicators that may inform diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of diseases. The bill emphasizes that coverage should align with scientifically supported tests and recognized clinical guidelines, thus expanding patient access to vital medical diagnostics.

Contention

Discussion around HB0484 may arise concerning the increase in insurance costs attributed to expanded coverage. Insurers may argue that mandatory coverage for advanced diagnostic testing could burden them financially, leading to higher premiums for policyholders. Furthermore, there may be debates regarding the extent of biomarker testing that should be covered, especially for tests not yet widely recognized or that lack comprehensive clinical validation. Such points may fuel discussions about healthcare affordability and the balance between innovation and cost management in health insurance.