Bill > HB2278

This bill modifies existing Tennessee law regarding public health, specifically concerning "certificates of public advantage," which are agreements that can grant certain protections to healthcare providers, potentially including restrictions on pricing. The key provision is that any such certificate in effect on June 30, 2028, will automatically expire. However, any pricing restrictions established by these certificates will continue to be enforced for a period of five years after their expiration or until a new inpatient acute care hospital opens in the same geographic area, whichever comes first. During this extended period, the Tennessee Attorney General will oversee these pricing restrictions, and they can only be changed if both the Attorney General and the healthcare entity agree in writing. The bill also clarifies that this change does not prevent the Attorney General from enforcing antitrust laws and exempts acute care hospitals in areas where a certificate of public advantage has expired from needing a "certificate of need," which is a separate regulatory approval process for healthcare facilities.