Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SB0401 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2		-	HOUSE BILL 1387
3		-	By Harris
	2	+	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
4	3
5	4		SENATE BILL 401
6	5		By Lamar
7	6
8	7
9	8		SB0401
10	9		000078
11	10		- 1 -
12	11
13	12		AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71,
14	13		relative to TennCare.
15	14
16	15		WHEREAS, access to health care for children is important to the child, the child's family,
17	16		and society at large; and
18	17		WHEREAS, access to health care can influence a child's physical and emotional health,
19	18		growth and development, and capacity to reach their full potential as adults; and
20	19		WHEREAS, children are at increased risk of developing preventable conditions if
21	20		appropriate care is not available when they are sick or injured; and
22	21		WHEREAS, many children who are under the age of eighteen and Tennessee residents
23	22		already qualify for the TennCare Medicaid program or the CoverKids program; and
24	23		WHEREAS, this State has a compelling interest to ensure all eligible children in
25	24		Tennessee have continuous access to healthcare coverage; now, therefore,
26	25		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
27	26		SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 1, is amended by
28	27		adding the following as a new section:
29	28		(a) As used in this section:
30	29		(1) "CoverKids program" means the program created pursuant to the
31	30		CoverKids Act of 2006, compiled in chapter 3, part 11 of this title;
32	31		(2) "Director" means the director of TennCare;
33	32		(3) "Division" means the division of TennCare; and
34	33		(4) "Minor" means a person who has not attained eighteen (18) years of
35	34		age.
36	35
37	36
38	37		- 2 - 000078
39	38
40	39		(b) Notwithstanding § 71-5-106 or another law, and to the extent permitted by
41	40		federal law, on and after July 1, 2026, a minor who is enrolled in TennCare medicaid or
42	41		the CoverKids program remains eligible for TennCare medicaid and the CoverKids
43	42		program until the minor reaches eighteen (18) years of age.
44	43		(c) On and after July 1, 2026, the division shall not subject a minor who is
45	44		enrolled in TennCare medicaid or the CoverKids program to a redetermination of
46	45		eligibility or disenroll the minor from TennCare medicaid or the CoverKids program
47	46		unless the division has knowledge to indicate that:
48	47		(1) The minor's parent or guardian requests the minor's voluntary
49	48		disenrollment;
50	49		(2) The minor is deceased;
51	50		(3) The minor no longer resides in this state;
52	51		(4) The minor's family income exceeds eligibility limits for TennCare
53	52		medicaid and the CoverKids program; or
54	53		(5) Initial enrollment of the minor was based on a division error or on
55	54		fraud, abuse, or perjury by the minor's parent or guardian in a manner that would
56	55		disqualify the minor for enrollment eligibility in TennCare medicaid or the
57	56		CoverKids program.
58	57		(d) This section does not prohibit the division from shifting an enrolled minor
59	58		from TennCare medicaid to the CoverKids program, or from the CoverKids program to
60	59		TennCare medicaid, for purposes of maintaining eligibility.
61	60		(e) The director shall submit to the federal centers for medicare and medicaid
62	61		services a request for any federal waiver the director deems necessary to effectuate this
63	62		section no later than December 31, 2025.
64	63		SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.