Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HB1387 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	SENATE BILL 401
3	3	By Lamar
4	4
5	5	HOUSE BILL 1387
6	6	By Harris
7	7
8	8
9	9	HB1387
10	10	000078
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13	13	AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71,
14	14	relative to TennCare.
15	15
16	16	WHEREAS, access to health care for children is important to the child, the child's family,
17	17	and society at large; and
18	18	WHEREAS, access to health care can influence a child's physical and emotional health,
19	19	growth and development, and capacity to reach their full potential as adults; and
20	20	WHEREAS, children are at increased risk of developing preventable conditions if
21	21	appropriate care is not available when they are sick or injured; and
22	22	WHEREAS, many children who are under the age of eighteen and Tennessee residents
23	23	already qualify for the TennCare Medicaid program or the CoverKids program; and
24	24	WHEREAS, this State has a compelling interest to ensure all eligible children in
25	25	Tennessee have continuous access to healthcare coverage; now, therefore,
26	26	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
27	27	SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 1, is amended by
28	28	adding the following as a new section:
29	29	(a) As used in this section:
30	30	(1) "CoverKids program" means the program created pursuant to the
31	31	CoverKids Act of 2006, compiled in chapter 3, part 11 of this title;
32	32	(2) "Director" means the director of TennCare;
33	33	(3) "Division" means the division of TennCare; and
34	34	(4) "Minor" means a person who has not attained eighteen (18) years of
35	35	age.
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37	37
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40	40	(b) Notwithstanding § 71-5-106 or another law, and to the extent permitted by
41	41	federal law, on and after July 1, 2026, a minor who is enrolled in TennCare medicaid or
42	42	the CoverKids program remains eligible for TennCare medicaid and the CoverKids
43	43	program until the minor reaches eighteen (18) years of age.
44	44	(c) On and after July 1, 2026, the division shall not subject a minor who is
45	45	enrolled in TennCare medicaid or the CoverKids program to a redetermination of
46	46	eligibility or disenroll the minor from TennCare medicaid or the CoverKids program
47	47	unless the division has knowledge to indicate that:
48	48	(1) The minor's parent or guardian requests the minor's voluntary
49	49	disenrollment;
50	50	(2) The minor is deceased;
51	51	(3) The minor no longer resides in this state;
52	52	(4) The minor's family income exceeds eligibility limits for TennCare
53	53	medicaid and the CoverKids program; or
54	54	(5) Initial enrollment of the minor was based on a division error or on
55	55	fraud, abuse, or perjury by the minor's parent or guardian in a manner that would
56	56	disqualify the minor for enrollment eligibility in TennCare medicaid or the
57	57	CoverKids program.
58	58	(d) This section does not prohibit the division from shifting an enrolled minor
59	59	from TennCare medicaid to the CoverKids program, or from the CoverKids program to
60	60	TennCare medicaid, for purposes of maintaining eligibility.
61	61	(e) The director shall submit to the federal centers for medicare and medicaid
62	62	services a request for any federal waiver the director deems necessary to effectuate this
63	63	section no later than December 31, 2025.
64	64	SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.