Boards and Commissions

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify how public access to the reports will be ensured, only that they must include information about both the department and TennCare's services.

Adding TennCare to Statewide Planning Council

This bill adds the director of long-term care services for TennCare and a representative from each managed care organization under TennCare to the statewide planning and policy council, expanding its duties to advise on policies related to both the department's programs and TennCare.

What This Bill Does

• Adds the director of long-term care services at TennCare or their chosen person as a member of the council.
• Requires the director to appoint one person from each managed care organization under TennCare to join the council.
• Expands the council's job to advise both the department and TennCare on policies, budget requests, and service development for TennCare waivers and the department’s programs.
• Changes annual reports to include information about services provided by both the department and TennCare.

Who It Names or Affects

• The statewide planning and policy council for disability and aging in Tennessee.
• TennCare's director of long-term care services.
• Representatives from managed care organizations under TennCare.

Terms To Know

TennCare

A state health insurance program that provides medical coverage to low-income and disabled Tennesseans.

Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)

Companies contracted by TennCare to provide healthcare services to beneficiaries.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the new members will be chosen or their roles within the council.
• It is unclear what specific changes this will bring to the annual reports beyond including information about TennCare's services and budget requests.

Official Summary Text

Present law establishes the statewide planning and policy council ("council") for the department of disability and aging ("department") to assist in planning a comprehensive array of high-quality prevention, early intervention, treatment, and habilitatio
n services and supports and to advise the department on policy, budget requests, and developing and evaluating services and supports. The council must be composed of no less than 11 members, not including ex officio members, including a chair appointed b
y
the governor, one legislator appointed by the speaker of the senate, and one legislator appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. Present law provides that the commissioner serves ex officio as secretary, the governor is an ex officio mem
ber and may appoint representatives of state agencies as ex officio members, and the appointing authorities include the governor and the commissioner.

This bill adds the director of long-term care services for the bureau of TennCare ("director"), or the director
'
s designee, as a member of the council, and requires the director to appoint one person to the council from the bureau of TennCare
'
s contracte
d managed care organizations.

COUNCIL DUTIES

Present law requires the council to advise the commissioner of disability and aging ("commissioner") on the needs of persons supported, the development of services and supports, and budget appropriations for the department's programs. This bill requires
the council to also advise the department and the bureau of TennCare on policy, budget requests, and the development and evaluation of services and supports.

This bill further requires the council to advise the commissioner and the director of TennCare regarding the needs of persons supported, the development of services and supports, and budget appropriations for the implementation of TennCare waivers and th
e department's programs.

ANNUAL REPORT

Present law requires the council, in conjunction with the commissioner, to report annually to the governor on the service systems, including programs, services, supports, and facilities of the department, and authorizes the council to furnish copies to t
he general assembly with recommendations for legislation. Present law requires the commissioner to make the report available to the public.

This bill requires the annual report to address the service systems, including programs, services, supports, and facilities of both the department and the bureau of TennCare, and requires the commissioner and the director to make the report available to
the public, including on the internet and by other appropriate methods.

ON MARCH 2, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2167, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 c
larifies that the director of long-term care services for the bureau of TennCare will be required to appoint
one person to the
statewide planning and policy council
from each of the bureau of TennCare's
contracted
managed care organizations.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 2411
By Jones R

SENATE BILL 2167
By Yager
SB2167
012425
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 52,
Chapter 5, Part 6 and Title 71, Chapter 5, relative
to statewide planning and policy council.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 52-5-601(a), is amended by deleting
"advise the department" and substituting "advise the department and the bureau of TennCare".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 52-5-601(b)(1), is amended by
adding the following to the end of the subdivision:
The director of long-term care services for the bureau of TennCare, or the director's
designee, shall serve as a member of the council. Additionally, the director shall appoint
one (1) person to the council from the bureau of TennCare's contracted managed care
organizations.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 52-5-602(a), is amended by deleting
"advise the commissioner" and substituting "advise the commissioner and the director of
TennCare" and by deleting "appropriations for the programs" and substituting "appropriations for
the implementation of TennCare waivers and the department's programs".
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 52-5-602(c), is amended by deleting
"of the department" and substituting "of the department and the bureau of TennCare" and by
deleting "commissioner shall make" and substituting "commissioner and the director of
TennCare shall make".
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.