TN SB1681

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 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 they have capacity.

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

Violations carry civil penalties up to $50,000 per incident ($25,000 for hospitals under 100 beds), and physicians face up to $50,000 fines plus potential licensure sanctions; effective July 1, 2026.