Official Summary Text
CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION FOR PHYSICIANS GENERALLY
Present law requires a person licensed to
practice medicine in this state to generally complete continuing medical education as required by the board of medical examiners. However, the board may establish waivers from such continuing medical education requirements and exemptions for certain lice
n
sees through rules. The board must establish the continuing medical educational requirements, waivers, and exemptions through rules.
This bill provides that, in establishing such continuing medical educational requirements, the board of medical examiner
s must develop and offer an optional course in maternal mental health, which must address all of the following:
Best practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders.
The range of maternal mental health disorders.
The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment plan.
When an obstetrician or a primary care physician should consult with a psychiatrist versus making a referral.
This bill requires the board
to periodically update any curriculum so developed to account for new research. The board must accept as credit toward a continuing education requirement the successful completion of the course described in this bill by a physician who practices in the s
p
ecialty of pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, or psychiatry.
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS
Present law requires every registered osteopathic physician to annually pay a renewal fee as set by the board; provided, that satisfactory evide
nce is presented to the board that such licensee in the year preceding the application for renewal successfully completed the required number of hours in courses, programs, internships or residencies as established and approved by the board through rules.
This bill provides that, in establishing such continuing osteopathic medical educational requirements, the board of osteopathic examination must develop and offer an optional course in maternal mental health, which must address all of the following:
Best practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders.
The range of maternal mental health disorders.
The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment plan.
When an obstetrician or a primary care osteopathic physician should consult with a psychiatrist versus making a referral.
This bill requires the board to periodically update such curriculum developed to account for new research. The board must accept
as credit toward a continuing education requirement the successful completion of the course described in this bill by an osteopathic physician who practices in the specialty of pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, or psychiatry.
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PSY
CHOLOGISTS
Present law requires the board of examiners in psychology to establish continuing educational requirements for psychologists designated as health service providers and psychological examiners, senior psychological examiners, certified psychol
ogical assistants, and certified psychological testing technicians.
This bill provides that, in establishing such continuing educational requirements, the board must develop and offer an optional course in maternal mental health, which must address all o
f the following:
Best practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders.
The range of maternal mental health disorders.
The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment plan.
This bill requires the board to periodically update such curriculum developed to account for new research. The board must accept as credit toward a continuing education requirement the successful completion of the course described in
this bill by a psychologist designated as a health service provider, psychological examiner, senior psychological examiner, or certified psychological assistant.
ON MARCH 17, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 849, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 revises the provisions requiring the board of medical examiners, the
board of osteopathic examination
, and the
board of examiners in psychology
to each develop and offer an optional course
in maternal mental health
to, instead, require
the de
partment of health
to
collaborate with an organization in this state that is approved by the board and accredited as a sponsor of continuing medical education to create or identify a continuing education program for the purpose of providing healthcare prof
essionals licensed
in this state
with information or training relative to
(i) b
est practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders;
(ii) the
range of maternal mental health disorders;
(iii) t
he range of evidence-based treatment options,
including the importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment plan; and
(iv) for an
obstetrician or a primary care physician
, when to
consult with a psychiatrist versus making a referral.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 849
By Lamar
HOUSE BILL 960
By Love
HB0960
002514
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AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63,
relative to maternal mental health.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-6-233, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(c)
(1) In establishing continuing medical educational requirements pursuant
to subsection (b), the board of medical examiners shall develop and offer an
optional course in maternal mental health, which must address the following:
(A) Best practices in screening for maternal mental health
disorders;
(B) The range of maternal mental health disorders;
(C) The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the
importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the
treatment plan; and
(D) When an obstetrician or a primary care physician should
consult with a psychiatrist versus making a referral.
(2) The board shall periodically update any curriculum developed
pursuant to this subsection (c) to account for new research.
(3) The board shall accept as credit toward a continuing education
requirement the successful completion of the course described in this subsection
(c) by a physician who practices in the specialty of:
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(A) Pediatrics;
(B) Obstetrics/gynecology; or
(C) Psychiatry.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-9-107(a), is amended by
designating the existing language as subdivision (a)(1) and adding the following as a new
subdivision (a)(2):
(2)
(A) In establishing continuing osteopathic medical educational
requirements pursuant to subdivision (a)(1), the board of osteopathic
examination shall develop and offer an optional course in maternal mental health,
which must address the following:
(i) Best practices in screening for maternal mental health
disorders;
(ii) The range of maternal mental health disorders;
(iii) The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the
importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the
treatment plan; and
(iv) When an obstetrician or a primary care osteopathic physician
should consult with a psychiatrist versus making a referral.
(B) The board shall periodically update any curriculum developed
pursuant to this subdivision (a)(2) to account for new research.
(C) The board shall accept as credit toward a continuing education
requirement the successful completion of the course described in this subdivision
(a)(2) by an osteopathic physician who practices in the specialty of:
(i) Pediatrics;
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(ii) Obstetrics/gynecology; or
(iii) Psychiatry.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-11-104(h), is amended by
designating the existing language as subdivision (h)(1) and adding the following as a new
subdivision (h)(2):
(2)
(A) In establishing continuing educational requirements pursuant to
subdivision (h)(1), the board shall develop and offer an optional course in
maternal mental health, which must address the following:
(i) Best practices in screening for maternal mental health
disorders;
(ii) The range of maternal mental health disorders; and
(iii) The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the
importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the
treatment plan.
(B) The board shall periodically update any curriculum developed
pursuant to this subdivision (h)(2) to account for new research.
(C) The board shall accept as credit toward a continuing education
requirement the successful completion of the course described in this subdivision
(h)(2) by a:
(i) Psychologist designated as a health service provider;
(ii) Psychological examiner;
(iii) Senior psychological examiner; or
(iv) Certified psychological assistant.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.