Explanation of Senate Bill 1369 and House Bill 819

Senate Bill 1369, sponsored by Watson, and House Bill 819, sponsored by Garrett, aim to make changes to Tennessee laws regarding certificates of need in healthcare.

The bill specifically focuses on amending Tennessee Code Annotated in various titles to include a new definition of "acute care hospital" and remove the requirement for a certificate of need to establish or operate such hospitals. An acute care hospital is defined as a hospital that primarily serves patients with an average length of stay of 25 days or less.

The effective dates for different sections of the bill vary, with certain sections coming into effect in July 2024, July 2025, December 2025, December 2027, December 2029, and July 2028, based on the public welfare requirement.