AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63 and Title 68, relative to health care.
Summary
SB2476 creates a narrow licensing accommodation for certain home care providers in Tennessee. It provides that a nurse seeking licensure as a home care organization is not required to hire staff or maintain an office if the nurse meets the bill’s conditions. Instead, the nurse must request secure storage space from the Department of Health at a location the department deems appropriate for patient records.
The bill defines “nurse” for this purpose as a licensed registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or certified nursing assistant who provides home health services under a licensed home care organization to four or fewer patients. It also authorizes the Department of Health to adopt rules to implement the new section, and the act would take effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68 by adding a new section governing licensure of home care organizations, and it indirectly affects Title 63 health care licensing provisions by changing how certain nurses may qualify to operate under home care organization rules. Its practical effect is to reduce administrative and overhead requirements for very small-scale home health providers, while shifting responsibility to the Department of Health to provide secure records storage and promulgate implementing rules. The measure primarily affects nurses, certified nursing assistants, home care organizations, and the Department of Health.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented debate or formal indication of support or opposition in the materials provided. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be a targeted regulatory relief bill aimed at helping small home care providers comply with licensure requirements.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential issues implied by the bill include whether the Department of Health should be required to provide storage space, how secure records would be maintained, and whether exempting very small providers from office and staffing requirements could affect oversight or patient record management. However, no legislator or stakeholder positions are included in the record provided.