Health Care

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Health Care Reporting Act

This bill requires Tennessee's health commissioner to report annually by January 15th on progress in providing adult emergency oral health care using both public and private resources.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the commissioner of health to send a yearly report by January 15th.
• The report must cover how well the state is doing with its plan for adult emergency dental care.
• This includes information on how public and private sector help is being used.

Who It Names or Affects

• Tennessee's health commissioner
• Legislative committees responsible for health matters

Terms To Know

Emergency oral health care

Dental treatment needed right away to fix serious problems like severe tooth pain or infections.

Public and private sector resources

Money, staff, and equipment from both government agencies and businesses that help provide services.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if the report is late or incomplete.
• It's unclear how this reporting will affect actual dental care for adults in Tennessee.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 597
By Rose

HOUSE BILL 647
By Leatherwood

HB0647
002199
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68,
relative to health care.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-1-301, is amended by deleting the
last sentence and substituting:
By January 15 of each year, the commissioner shall report to the chair of the committee
of the house of representatives with subject matter jurisdiction over health-related
matters and the chair of the health and welfare committee of the senate on the progress
of this strategy.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.