TN HB1943

Hospital emergency departments must provide medical screening examinations to pregnant women presenting with active labor or emergency medical conditions, and cannot delay care to inquire about payment or insurance status

Hospitals must either stabilize pregnant women with emergency conditions or arrange appropriate transfers; transfers of unstabilized patients require written patient consent and physician certification that transfer benefits outweigh risks

Hospitals with specialized capabilities (burn units, trauma units, neonatal intensive care units) cannot refuse appropriate transfers of pregnant women requiring those services if capacity exists

Hospitals cannot retaliate against medical professionals who refuse to authorize transfers of unstabilized patients or employees who report violations

Civil penalties for violations range up to $50,000 per incident ($25,000 for hospitals with fewer than 100 beds), and physicians may face licensure sanctions; effective July 1, 2026