(NASHVILLE) As Tennessee ushers in the new fiscal year on July 1, a slew of new Tennessee laws passed by the General Assembly will go into effect. In the second session of the 113th General Assembly, many laws were passed regarding healthcare. Highlights include certificate of need reform, protecting power of attorney rights in healthcare decisions and making healthcare more accessible.
Lawmakers passed a law that ensures those with power of attorney for healthcare decisions cannot be prevented from visiting a patient by prohibiting hospitals from restricting or terminating a power of attorney’s visiting rights. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, some hospitals suspended or revoked a patient’s power of attorney’s right to visit and make healthcare decisions, resulting in many patients passing away without being able to say goodbye to their loved ones. Visitors would still be required to follow safety protocols, but they cannot be forced to adhere to any invasive protocols such as having a vaccination or medical procedure done before entering the hospital.
A new law gradually phases out the Certificate of Need (CON) permit requirements needed to provide nearly a dozen various health care services in the state during the next five years. The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission currently regulates the healthcare industry statewide through the CON program. That process requires a permit to be issued for the establishment or modification of a health care institution, facility or service at a designated location…