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SB1491 • 2026

Health Care

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 1, relative to medical assistance.

Healthcare
Active

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

Sponsor
Massey, Scarbrough
Last action
2026-01-14
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide information on the immediate effectiveness of the bill, but it is implied by the act's language.

Changing the Reporting Deadline for TennCare

This bill changes when managed care organizations that work with TennCare must send their yearly reports to the bureau of TennCare.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the deadline from March 1 to February 1 for managed care organizations to submit their annual report to the Tennessee Department of Health's Bureau of TennCare.
  • Updates the law in Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 1 of the Tennessee Code Annotated.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Managed care organizations participating in the TennCare program
  • The Bureau of TennCare within the Tennessee Department of Health

Terms To Know

TennCare
A state health insurance program for low-income and disabled Tennesseans.
Managed care organizations (MCOs)
Companies that provide healthcare services to TennCare members under contract with the Tennessee Department of Health.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify why the reporting deadline is being changed.
  • It only affects managed care organizations participating in the TennCare program and does not cover other health insurance programs or private companies.
  • There are no details about how this change will impact these organizations or the Bureau of TennCare.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  2. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  3. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  4. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  6. 2025-12-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1869
By Scarbrough

SENATE BILL 1491
By Massey
SB1491
010414
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71,
Chapter 5, Part 1, relative to medical assistance.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-5-154(a), is amended by deleting
"March 1" and substituting "February 1".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.