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Senate concurs in bill barring denial of care over vaccine refusal; TennCare reimbursement penalty included
Summary
The Senate adopted the conference committee report on SB1389, which prohibits providers from refusing health-care services to TennCare enrollees because of vaccine refusal and directs TennCare not to reimburse providers who violate the rule; minority members sought narrow medical exceptions.
NASHVILLE — The Senate agreed to the conference committee report on Senate Bill 1389, a measure intended to prevent denial of health-care services to TennCare enrollees on the basis of a refusal to vaccinate.
Chairman Watson moved adoption of the report and read the operative language: the conference report provides that a provider shall not refuse to provide health-care services to an enrollee because the enrollee, or the enrollee's parent or guardian if the enrollee is a minor, has a religious or moral objection to a vaccine or immunization. The report further states that TennCare shall not provide reimbursement to a provider who violates that section.
Senator Kyle, speaking from the minority, asked colleagues to consider three narrow exceptions for oncology patients, organ-transplant recipients and patients who are immunocompromised; he said he represents St. Jude and that those populations warrant special treatment. The sponsor and other supporters expressed appreciation for the work gone into the bill but said the conference report was the agreed vehicle for floor consideration.
With no sustained further debate and no objection to the question, the Senate voted to concur in the conference committee report; the clerk confirmed the chamber concurred, making it the final action of the Senate on SB1389.
