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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 261
SENATE BILL NO. 849
By Lamar
Substituted for: House Bill No. 960
By Love, Hardaway, Hemmer
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, relative to maternal mental health.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-6-233, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(c)(1) In establishing continuing medical educational requirements pursuant to
subsection (b), the department of health shall collaborate with an organization in this
state that is approved by the board and accredited as a sponsor of continuing medical
education to create or identify a continuing education program for the purpose of
providing healthcare professionals licensed pursuant to this chapter with information or
training relative to:
(A) Best practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders;
(B) The range of maternal mental health disorders;
(C) The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the
importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment plan;
and
(D) When an obstetrician or a primary care physician should consult with
a psychiatrist versus making a referral.
(2) The board shall periodically update any curriculum developed pursuant to
this subsection (c) to account for new research.
(3) The board shall accept as credit toward a continuing education requirement
the successful completion of the course described in this subsection (c) by a physician
who practices in the specialty of:
(A) Pediatrics;
(8) Obstetrics/gynecology; or
(C) Psychiatry.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-9-107(a), is amended by designating the
existing language as subdivision (a)(1) and adding the following as a new subdivision (a)(2):
(2)(A) In establishing continuing osteopathic medical educational requirements
pursuant to subdivision (a)(1 ), the department of health shall collaborate with an
organization in this state that is approved by the board of osteopathic examination and
accredited as a sponsor of continuing osteopathic medical _education to create or
identify a continuing education program for the purpose of providing healthcare
professionals licensed pursuant to this chapter with information or training relative to:
(i) Best practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders;
SB 849
(ii) The range of maternal mental health disorders;
(iii) The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the
importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment
plan; and
(iv) When an obstetrician or a primary care osteopathic physician
should consult with a psychiatrist versus making a referral.
(8) The board shall periodically update any curriculum developed pursuant to
this subdivision (a)(2) to account for new research.
(C) The board shall accept as credit toward a continuing education
requirement the successful completion of the course described in this subdivision
(a)(2) by an osteopathic physician who practices in the specialty of:
(i) Pediatrics;
(ii) Obstetrics/gynecology; or
(iii) Psychiatry.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-11-104(h), is amended by designating
the existing language as subdivision (h)(1) and adding the following as a new subdivision (h)(2):
(2)(A) In establishing continuing educational requirements pursuant to subdivision
(h)(1 ), the department of health shall collaborate with an organization in this state that
is approved by the board and accredited as a sponsor of continuing education to
create or identify a continuing education program for the purpose of providing
healthcare professionals licensed pursuant to this chapter with information or training
relative to:
(i) Best practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders;
(ii) The range of maternal mental health disorders; and
(iii) The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the
importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment
plan.
(8) The board shall periodically update any curriculum developed pursuant to
this subdivision (h)(2) to account for new research.
(C) The board shall accept as credit toward a continuing education
requirement the successful completion of the course described in this subdivision
(h)(2) by a:
(i) Psychologist designated as a health service provider;
(ii) Psychological examiner;
(iii) Senior psychological examiner; or
(iv) Certified psychological assistant.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
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SENATE BILL NO. 849
PASSED: April 14, 2025
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\ RAND~ McNALLY
SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
CAMEROl'rSEXTON,SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
/\prn ~~ APPROVED this 2025
day of
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