Tennessee law
Healthcare & Benefits Laws in Tennessee.
Tennessee healthcare law combines federal frameworks (Medicare, Medicaid, ACA, HIPAA, EMTALA) with state-specific statutes governing facility licensing (through the Department of Health) and professional licensing. Tennessee maintains a Certificate of Need program (Tenn. Code § 68-11-1601 et seq.) — now called Certificate of Public Advantage (COPA) and CN for specified services. Tennessee has NOT expanded Medicaid under the ACA — one of 10 remaining non-expansion states. TennCare (Tennessee's Medicaid program) operates under a federal waiver. Tennessee operates the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database (CSMD).
Last verified: 2026-04-17
State law
Key Tennessee Statutes
Tennessee maintains a Certificate of Need program (reformed in 2021) for specified services including hospital beds, long-term care beds, and certain specialty services.
Tennessee has NOT expanded Medicaid under the ACA. TennCare (operating under federal 1115 waiver) is Tennessee's Medicaid program covering categorical groups (children, pregnant women, aged/disabled).
Tennessee operates a mandatory CSMD. Prescribers must check the CSMD before prescribing Schedule II-V controlled substances in specified circumstances.
The Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners licenses physicians and oversees discipline.
State law
Official Sources
Not Legal Advice
This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Tennessee.
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