Tennessee House Bill HB2906

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/24
• Refer: 2/5/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 56, Chapter 7, relative to emergency services.

Impact

The passage of HB2906 is expected to have a significant impact on the operational protocols of health benefit plans in Tennessee. This bill intends to enhance the process surrounding prior authorization, potentially reducing delays in the provision of care following emergency stabilization. By clarifying the timeframe within which insurers must act, the bill aims to ensure that patients receive prompt follow-up treatment without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that could impede their recovery.

Summary

House Bill 2906 aims to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically targeting regulations concerning emergency services and health benefit plans. The proposed changes focus on the requirements that health benefit plans must meet in relation to prior authorization for continuing medical treatment and specialty consultations. Under the new provisions, health insurers will have the ability to require prior authorization for further coverage only after 72 hours post stabilization of an enrollee, which seeks to address issues related to timely access to necessary medical care.

Conclusion

Overall, HB2906 represents a legislative effort to refine existing emergency service protocols within Tennessee's healthcare system. It reflects a growing focus on patient access to care, especially following emergencies, while also addressing the role of health insurance providers in facilitating or obstructing that access through prior authorization practices.

Contention

While proponents of HB2906 may argue that it streamlines the authorization process, there may be contention regarding the effects on insurance companies and healthcare providers. Critics could express concerns about whether such a measure would place additional strains on insurers by obligating them to expedite processes, thus impacting their operational efficiency. Furthermore, there could be debates around the balance of ensuring patient access to care while also protecting insurer interests against potentially rising costs.