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HB 1936

Health, Dept. of - As introduced, directs the department to submit a report on the feasibility and cost projections for creating and maintaining an implanted medical device registry available to each healthcare facility in this state to the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives on or before January 1, 2027. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 53; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Bryan Terry

Tennessee directs health department to study feasibility and costs of creating statewide implanted medical device registry accessible to all healthcare facilities by January 2027.

Action def. in Health Committee to 3/24/2026
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Bill Summary · HB 1936

Legislative bill overview

HB 1936 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to study the feasibility and costs of creating a statewide implanted medical device registry that would be accessible to all healthcare facilities in the state. The department must submit findings and cost projections to legislative leadership by January 1, 2027. The bill modifies multiple Tennessee code sections across health, administrative, and regulatory titles.

Why is this important

Implanted medical devices (pacemakers, joint replacements, stents, etc.) currently lack coordinated tracking across healthcare systems, making it difficult for providers to access complete device histories for patients. A statewide registry could improve patient safety by enabling better device recall management, reducing duplicate implants, and improving clinical decision-making. However, such a registry requires significant infrastructure investment and raises questions about data privacy, interoperability, and ongoing maintenance costs.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and funding: The bill only mandates a feasibility study; actual implementation could be expensive, and it's unclear who would fund ongoing registry operations
  • Data privacy and security: Centralized medical device records require robust protections against breaches; healthcare facilities may worry about liability and compliance burden
  • Healthcare facility burden: Facilities would need to report device data and integrate with the registry system, potentially requiring IT upgrades and staff training

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

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