Back to Tennessee

HB2597 • 2026

Health Care

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68 and Title 71, relative to maternal health.

Healthcare
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Camper, Lamar
Last action
2026-02-05
Official status
P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on funding amounts or allocation methods.

Improving Maternal Health Services

This bill requires TennCare to set Medicaid payment rates for birthing centers similar to those for hospitals and prioritizes federal grants for rural areas.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires TennCare to create a methodology to make Medicaid facility fee reimbursement rates for birthing centers comparable to hospital rates.
  • Ensures annual increases in birthing center Medicaid payments match the rate of increase for hospital payments.
  • Gives priority to allocating federal grants to birthing centers, especially those in rural areas.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Birthing centers
  • TennCare and the Department of Health

Terms To Know

Medicaid facility fee reimbursement rates
The amount of money Medicaid pays for services provided at birthing centers or hospitals.
Rural health transformation program grant funds
Money given by the federal government to improve healthcare in rural areas.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money will be allocated for birthing centers.
  • It is unclear if all birthing centers will benefit equally from these changes.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  2. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  3. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  4. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  5. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  6. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  7. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  8. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 2287
By Lamar

HOUSE BILL 2597
By Camper
HB2597
012327
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68
and Title 71, relative to maternal health.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Birthing center" has the same meaning as defined in § 68-11-201;
and
(2) "Hospital" has the same meaning as defined in § 68-11-201(31)(A)
and (B).
(b) The bureau of TennCare shall:
(1) Create a methodology to determine medicaid facility fee
reimbursement rates for birthing centers that are comparable to rates for similar
services provided at a hospital; and
(2) Require annual increases to birthing center medicaid facility fee
reimbursement rates that are equivalent to hospital medicaid reimbursement rate
increases.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a)
(1) "Birthing center" has the same meaning as defined in § 68-11-201;
and

- 2 - 012327

(2) "Hospital" has the same meaning as defined in § 68-11-201(31)(A)
and (B).
(b) In making decisions as to the allocation of the federal rural health
transportation program grant funds received by the department from the centers for
medicare and medicaid services (CMS), the department of health shall give funding
priority to birthing centers in this state, with first priority to birthing centers in rural
counties, and second priority to birthing centers in urban counties that provide services
to residents of rural counties that do not have a birthing center or hospital with a
maternity ward.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.