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HB 1655

Health Care - As introduced, adds clinical informatics, lifestyle medicine, and medical virtualist to the list of words or abbreviations that a person may attach to a name to indicate or induce another person to believe that the person is engaged in the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 6.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Brock Martin

Tennessee bill adds three professional titles to regulated medical designations, requiring clarification of licensure requirements for clinical informatics, lifestyle medicine, and virtual medicine practitioners.

P2C, ref. to Health Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 1655

Legislative bill overview

HB 1655 would add three professional titles—"clinical informatics," "lifestyle medicine," and "medical virtualist"—to Tennessee's list of designations that indicate medical practice. This expands the regulated titles under Tennessee's medical practice laws (TCA Title 63, Chapter 6), potentially requiring practitioners using these titles to meet specific licensure or credential requirements.

Why is this important

Professional title regulation affects who can legally represent themselves as a medical practitioner and protects consumers from unlicensed practitioners. Adding these emerging fields to regulated titles clarifies legal boundaries as medicine evolves, but also determines whether these practitioners need formal medical licensure or can operate under alternative credentialing systems.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope creep vs. consumer protection: Does regulating these titles as medical practice limit innovation in health tech and preventive medicine, or appropriately protect patients from unqualified practitioners?
  • Licensure requirements unclear: The bill doesn't specify whether practitioners must hold MD/DO licenses or if alternative credentials in these specialties would be acceptable, creating ambiguity.
  • "Medical virtualist" definition: The term is non-standard and undefined in the bill, making enforcement problematic and potentially capturing telehealth practitioners unintentionally.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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