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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
The House Insurance Subcommittee is scheduled to consider the “Freedom to Grow Our Tennessee Families Act” this week.
While House Bill 0595 (HB0595) is not explicitly detailed in its summary, the full text of the legislation states that “a health insurer that issues, delivers, amends, or renews a health benefit plan that is to be in effect in this state on or after January 1, 2026, shall provide coverage for all of the following: (1) Fertility diagnostic care; (2) Fertility treatment; and (3) Fertility preservation services.”
While this may seem like a family friendly bill on the surface, it is likely that this would lead to increased insurance premiums for everyone.
Additionally, another provision requiring that fertility care be covered under the Medicaid program would put more strain on taxpayers in the state.
The bill would create a new subsection listing, “Fertility care for a fertility patient, as described in SECTION 2 [of HBO595],” under the treatments required for medical assistance, “including demonstration projects and programs designed to enhance the efficient and economic operation of the Medicaid program.”
Finally, HB0595 would amend a portion of Tennessee Code relative to eligibility of familial caretakers to receive “temporary assistance” by making any relative who becomes ineligible for this assistance for any reason still able to receive, “transitional childcare assistance for a period of not less than six (6) months. The department shall pay childcare assistance on a sliding fee scale based upon a family’s income for so long as federal funding or any related waiver is in effect.”
The bill goes into specifics as to what procedures must be covered, along with other requirements for insurance companies.
There is some concern that the legislation, sponsored by State Representative Caleb Hemmer (D-Nashville-District 59), may be a way for Hemmer to open the door for more homosexual couples to have access to fertility treatments, as the text of the bill defines “fertility patient” as “(A) An individual or couple with infertility; (B) An individual unable to conceive as an individual or with a partner because the individual or couple does not have the necessary gametes for conception.”
Because the wording of the bill does not exclude homosexual couples, it is possible that the current wording could be used to make it allowable.
The companion Senate Bill 0463 (SB0463) is sponsored by Senator Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville-District 7).
To reach the members of the House Insurance Subcommittee before their meeting on 3/12, please use the contact information below:
Rep.esther.helton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bob.freeman@capitol.tn.gov, rep.yusuf.hakeem@capitol.tn.gov, rep.renea.jones@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sabi.kumar@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kevin.raper@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.scarbrough@capitol.tn.gov
