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Committee advances network-adequacy bill after DCI warns implementation of 2023 law is still fresh
Summary
House Bill 19,30 would tighten network-adequacy review, require faster reporting and allow penalties; Department of Commerce and Insurance said it is not opposed to the policy but asked the committee to allow the 2023 reforms (Public Chapter 352) and a newly onboarded vendor to be implemented before additional statutory change; the committee approved HB 19,30 (17 ayes).
Chairman (sponsor) introduced House Bill 19,30 to modify Tennessee's network-adequacy rules—requiring the department to review network filings within 30 days, requiring carriers to report material network changes within 15 days, and enabling corrective-action plans and monetary penalties for noncompliance.
Scott McNally and Will Kirby of the Department of Commerce and Insurance told the committee the department is not opposed to network adequacy in principle but requested time to let the 2023 changes (Public Chapter 352) play out; they said the department recently onboarded a vendor (the same vendor used by CMS) and has opened investigations and pending enforcement actions from complaints received in 2025. ‘‘We do not oppose the network adequacy bill when it was run in 2023. The department is not opposed to network adequacy at all. We're just kind of opposed to making this change before we've had a little more time to implement the last one,’’ Scott McNally said.
Committee members debated whether to wait for the department's process to mature or move now to tighten requirements; sponsors argued immediate change protects patients who lack access to in-network providers. The clerks reported 17 ayes and no nays; House Bill 19,30 passed the committee and was referred to Finance, Ways and Means.
