Senate Bill 851, also known as House Bill 1101, amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, to address Medicaid expansion in the state. The bill authorizes the governor to expand Medicaid eligibility in accordance with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Additionally, it grants the governor the authority to negotiate with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the terms of this Medicaid expansion.

The bill replaces the existing language in Section 71-5-126 by deleting the previous provisions and substituting them with the new authorization for the governor. This change aims to facilitate the expansion of Medicaid in Tennessee, aligning state law with federal guidelines and allowing for negotiations to optimize the terms of the expansion. The act is set to take effect immediately upon becoming law, emphasizing the urgency of the public welfare.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-5-126