Senate Bill 7074, also known as House Bill 7069, amends Tennessee Code Annotated to expand Medicaid eligibility specifically for mental health services. The bill modifies Section 71-5-126 by removing the previous restrictions on the governor's ability to make decisions regarding the expansion of Medicaid. It establishes that the governor cannot obligate the state to expand Medicaid without a joint resolution from the General Assembly, except in cases where the expansion is focused on mental health prevention and treatment.

Under the new provisions, the governor is granted the authority to expand Medicaid eligibility based on age, income, or other demographic factors specifically for mental health services, in alignment with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Additionally, the governor is permitted to negotiate with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the terms of this Medicaid expansion. The act is set to take effect immediately upon becoming law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-5-126