Senate Bill 1685, also known as House Bill 1738, proposes an amendment to the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 71-5-126, to allow the governor to expand Medicaid eligibility for the specific purpose of providing gun violence prevention services. This expansion would be in accordance with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The bill empowers the governor to negotiate with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the terms of this Medicaid expansion.

The bill outlines that the Department of Finance and Administration, along with the Bureau of TennCare, will be responsible for identifying existing state programs or creating new programs that qualify for federal matching funds under the state Medicaid plan. They are also tasked with developing a plan for the implementation of these services, which will require approval from CMS before being put into action. The act is set to take effect immediately upon becoming law, emphasizing the urgency of addressing gun violence prevention through expanded Medicaid services.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-5-126