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Insurance committee advances multiple health and insurance bills; votes at a glance
Summary
On March 19 the Tennessee House Insurance Committee voted on several bills, passing measures on supplemental 'expected benefit' insurance, biosimilars, ambulance reimbursement increases, a speech-therapy study for students, and advancing others to later committees or calendars.
The Tennessee House Insurance Committee considered eight calendar items on March 19 and took votes on multiple bills affecting insurance coverage, pharmaceuticals, emergency medical services and school-based therapy studies.
Key actions and outcomes:
- House Bill 927 (sponsor: Chairman Hawk) — Clarifies "expected benefit insurance" (supplemental products that pay policyholders directly for lost wages or expenses). The committee voted to advance the bill to Calendar and Rules, 15–0. Sponsor explained the bill distinguishes supplemental products from major medical coverage.
- House Bill 1198 — Allows TennCare to utilize biosimilars as a cost-saving measure and requires the TennCare pharmacy advisory committee to consider biosimilars; it also permits step-therapy requiring a patient to try a biosimilar before covering a branded biologic. Committee approved 15–0 and referred the bill to Calendar and Rules.
- House Bill 195 ("Save Rural Ambulance Act," sponsor: Chairman Martin) — Amends TennCare reimbursement for rural emergency and nonemergency ground ambulance services, increasing the reimbursement rate from 67% to 78.5% according to the sponsor. The committee adopted an amendment (5322) and voted to refer the bill to Finance, Ways and Means, 15–0.
- House Bill 296 (sponsor: Representative Love) — Directs a study by the Department of Education (TESSAR referenced in testimony) on the feasibility and benefits of providing insurance coverage for speech therapy for students with communication disorders. Committee votes to advance the bill to Finance, Ways and Means, 17–0.
- House Bill 15 (sponsor: Representative Love) — Sickle cell-related legislation was rolled to next year's calendar at the sponsor's request to allow further coordination with the Department of Health.
Other items: House Bill 484 (biomarker testing) was debated in depth and is covered in a separate report; House Bill 295 (doula verification and reimbursement) was postponed one week after public testimony and committee questions about verification, fees and implementation.
All vote tallies listed above reflect committee roll calls recorded by the clerk during the March 19 hearing.
