Tennessee passes ‘Healthcare Sharing Ministries Freedom to Share Act’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee will join more than two dozen other states to pass legislation protecting health care sharing ministries within its borders.

The Tennessee General Assembly passed the “Healthcare Sharing Ministries Freedom to Share Act,” sending the measure to the governor’s desk for his signature.

Brought by Sen. Shane Reeves (R-Murfreesboro), the bill “protects access to faith-based health care for Tennessee members of health care sharing ministries,” he said during a senate committee hearing in 2023. The measure is considered a “safe harbor” law, Reeves said, and would add Tennessee to a coalition of more than 30 other states with such a provision enshrined in law.

A health care sharing ministry (HCSM) is a nonprofit organization made up of people with like beliefs, typically Christianity, to share medical expenses outside of traditional health insurance. In the programs, members pay for one another’s medical expenses after they are submitted for reimbursement. Health care sharing ministries can set certain rules and parameters for reimbursement, including prohibitions on certain behaviors or medical conditions.

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The law would ensure that HCSMs in Tennessee are “not subject to the additional requirements of the state insurance code,” according to the bill text.

The bill was provided through “model legislation” from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which provides template legislation for states on issues involving “limited government, free markets and federalism,” according to ALEC.

According to Reeves, there are currently 28,000 Tennesseans who utilize a health care sharing ministry. As part of passing the bill, Reeves added that Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has agreed to place information on HCSMs on his website in order to provide Tennesseans information and resources about HCSMs. Additionally, Reeves said lawmakers worked with the Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) on the measure. TDCI will list HCSMs on their website, and if necessary, Tennesseans can file complaints with the department if “bad actors” prey upon HCSM users, Reeves said.

Hundreds of bills will be up for debate during the 113th General Assembly. Tennessee lawmakers shared their thoughts on some of the major issues up for discussion at this year’s legislative session.

You can also find daily coverage from the session here.

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