House Bill 970 revises various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated and the Public Acts of 2024, focusing on the regulations for certificates of need (CON) for healthcare institutions. The bill deletes several subdivisions and sections related to the existing CON framework and introduces new definitions, including a redefined term for "healthcare institution." Notably, it allows nursing homes to increase their licensed bed capacity without a CON under certain conditions and exempts Tennessee state veterans' homes from needing a CON. The bill also outlines a new application process for CONs, emphasizing independent review and verification of application information, and mandates that oversight of CONs will only apply to healthcare institutions as defined on June 30, 2025.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new section stating that its provisions do not apply to entities not classified as healthcare institutions after June 30, 2025, and updates several definitions to clarify the language surrounding healthcare facilities. Key amendments include the removal of references to CON requirements in multiple sections, streamlining the language for consistency. The provisions of the bill take effect immediately upon becoming law, with most changes set to be implemented on June 30, 2025, allowing for a transition period. Overall, the legislation aims to simplify the regulatory process for healthcare institutions while ensuring continued access to services, particularly in underserved areas.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 68-11-1601, 68-11-1602(10), 68-11-1602, 68-11-1602(18)(B), 68-11-1607, 68-11-1609(c), 68-11-1609, 68-11-1609(h), 68-11-1609(i)(1)(B), 68-11-1626, 34-6-201(4), 34-6-201, 42-8-101(1), 42-8-101, 63-6-204(l)(1)(A)(iii), 63-6-204, 63-6-601(2), 63-6-601, 68-11-201(40)(A), 68-11-201, 68-11-202(e)(1)(A), 68-11-202, 68-11-202(e)(1)(B), 68-11-205(g)(1)(A)(iii), 68-11-205, 68-11-206(c), 68-11-206, 68-11-277(c)(7), 68-11-277, 68-11-1802(a)(8), 68-11-1802