HB 712 - SB 1178
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
February 26, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Chris Higgins | Email: chris.higgins@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
HB 712 - SB 1178
SUMMARY OF BILL: Requires the Commissioner of the Department of Disability and
Aging (DDA) to develop guidelines for service providers for hiring a qualified family member as a
family caregiver, which must be disseminated annually to Medicaid-participating provider agencies
and published on the DDA's website. Establishes that a family caregiver may not be compensated
for care provided in excess of the amount of long-term services and supports (LTSS) or home and
community-based services (HCBS) or benefits designated to an individual with a disability within the
person receiving support's person-centered practice.
Requires the Director of TennCare to develop guidelines for providers for hiring a qualified family
member as a family caregiver, which must be disseminated annually to Medicaid-participating
provider agencies and published on the Division of TennCare's (Division's) website. Establishes that
a family caregiver may not be compensated for care provided in excess of the amount of LTSS or
HCBS designated to an individual with a disability within the person receiving support's person-
centered practice.
FISCAL IMPACT:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumptions:
• The Division and DDA can develop and disseminate the required guidelines regarding
family caregivers utilizing existing personnel and resources; without a significant increase in
expenditures.
• Family members of eligible individuals receiving LTSS are currently permitted to be paid as
workers when employed by a provider agency.
• Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 71-5-1404(e), an individual who enters an employment
agreement with a provider agency participating in the TennCare program is not ineligible to
receive payment for providing Medicaid-reimbursed home- and community-based long-
term care services to an individual eligible to receive such services on the basis that the
individual providing care and the individual receiving care reside in the same home.
• The proposed legislation does not increase the total amount of LTSS or HCBS that may be
provided to an individual; therefore, any fiscal impact to the Division or DDA is estimated
to be not significant.
HB 712 - SB 1178 2
IMPACT TO COMMERCE:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumption:
• Requiring guidelines to be created for hiring family caregivers will not have a significant
impact on commerce or jobs in the state.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director