2024 Legislative Recap

During the 2024 Legislative Session the Tennessee Dental Association (TDA) prioritized passing legislation that addressed dental insurance reform, expanded the dental safety net to increase access to basic oral health care and increased funding for dental in the Medicaid program, TennCare. Here are highlights of important legislation TDA worked on this year:

Dental Insurance Reform Legislation – SB 677

TDA’s Dental Insurance Reform legislation, sponsored by Sen. Shane Reeves (R-Murfreesboro) and Rep. Clark Boyd (R-Lebanon), addresses virtual credit cards, downcoding, bundling, and adds penalties to violating the current non-covered services law. It gives enforcement power to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance including the power to levy monetary penalties.

Department of Health Dental Supervision Bill – HB 1679

TDA worked with the Department of Health on their bill to amend T.C.A. §63-5-108, relative to the supervision of dental hygienists to allow five (5) hygienists to work under general supervision when working in entities operated by the Tennessee Department of Health and entities participating in the state safety net program for the uninsured. TDA lobbied to include state safety net providers in the amendment.

Pharmacists and Fluoride – HB 282

TDA worked with the Tennessee Pharmacists Association to clarify language that amended the definition of the practice of pharmacy to include prescriptive authority for topical fluoride agents when prescribed according to the American Dental Association’s recommendations for persons whose drinking water is proven to have a fluoride content below the United States department of health and human services’ recommended concentration. TDA offered amendatory language to clarify “topical fluoride agents.”

Medicaid/TennCare Budget

TDA filed a budget amendment asking for additional funding in TennCare’s dental program provider rate increases in the children’s program. This increase was included in the Bureau of TennCare’s original budget request, but not included in the Governor’s budget. TDA was unsuccessful in getting this additional funding for 2024-25, but this will continue to be a priority for TDA in the the future.

For-Profit Rural Health Clinic – Safety Net Inclusion – HB 1985

This bill was taken off notice by the sponsor after several groups, including the TDA, opposed the change which would have added for-profit rural health centers as a provider category to the state safety net program funding.