Committee approves amendment to clarify medical-necessity standards and moves SB 1753 to the calendar

The committee approved an amendment and advanced SB 1753, a Tennessee Medical Association-backed bill clarifying medical-necessity determinations and licensing-board authority.

Senator Hale introduced the amendment, which the sponsor said "ensures that the practice of medicine in Tennessee reflects how patients actually receive care" and makes three changes: recognizing certain emerging specialties, clarifying that physicians should follow generally accepted criteria for medical necessity, and making medical-necessity determinations subject to discipline by licensing boards. The amendment redefined medical-necessity determinations as the practice of medicine and placed them under licensing-board authority for discipline when providers fail to apply appropriate standards.

The committee voted on the amendment (voice) and then took a roll-call vote on the amended bill. The secretary recorded nine ayes; the chair announced the bill goes to the calendar.