Legislative Recap: Defending Healthcare Choice & Medical Freedom

Healthcare decisions should be made by patients and their doctors, not government bureaucrats or insurance companies. During the 114th General Assembly, Tennessee Republicans passed comprehensive healthcare reforms that expand access, protect choice, and defend medical freedom while addressing the unique challenges facing Tennessee families.

As someone who believes deeply in individual liberty and personal responsibility, I’m proud of much of the progress we’ve made toward a healthcare system that serves patients rather than special interests. However, I also voted against certain measures when they included provisions that conflicted with true medical freedom—such as mandated testing or insufficient patient protections.

Expanding Access and Removing Barriers:

• Expanded Experimental Treatments (HB192) - I voted against this because it involves using mRNA technology that should be done under supervision and careful monitoring with clinical trials. While I support removing barriers for terminal patients which the General Assembly has previously done, we must ensure experimental treatments meet proper safety standards.

• Cancer Patient Protections (HB395) - We removed regulatory barriers that prevented cancer patients from accessing recommended medications and treatments. Cancer is devastating enough without adding bureaucratic hurdles that delay or prevent critical care. These reforms ensure patients can get the treatments their doctors recommend without unnecessary delays.

• Expanded Prenatal Screenings (HB111) - The General Assembly passed this bill that mandates syphilis and hepatitis testing, but I opposed it because it mandated medical testing three separate times—removing flexibility for doctors and families and driving up costs for the patient. While the goal of expanding access to prenatal screenings is important, care should be personalized—not one-size-fits-all. Early detection can save lives, but it must be balanced with medical discretion and patient choice.

  
  

Protecting Medical Freedom:

• Protected DNA and Organs from Foreign Adversaries (HB395) - We prohibited foreign adversaries from accessing Tennesseans' genetic information and organs. This protects both individual privacy and national security while ensuring that our most personal biological information doesn't fall into the wrong hands. In an era of growing foreign threats, we must protect the most sensitive data of American citizens.

  
  

Massive Healthcare Investment:

• $1.5 Billion in New Healthcare Funding - We allocated unprecedented resources for health and social services, including:

  • Nursing home providers who care for our elderly

  • Behavioral health services for mental health and addiction treatment

  • Dental care access for underserved populations

  • Social services that support vulnerable families

This investment represents a comprehensive commitment to caring for Tennesseans across the entire spectrum of healthcare needs.

Why Healthcare Freedom Matters:

• Doctor-Patient Relationship is Sacred - The relationship between patients and their physicians is fundamental to high-quality healthcare. Government interference in medical decisions undermines this relationship, leading to worse outcomes for patients.

• Individual Choice Drives Quality - When patients have choices and providers must compete for their business, quality improves and costs decrease. Healthcare monopolies and government control breed inefficiency and poor service.

• Innovation Requires Freedom - Medical breakthroughs come from researchers and entrepreneurs who are free to experiment and innovate. Excessive regulation stifles the innovation that produces life-saving treatments and technologies.

• Personal Responsibility Improves Health - When individuals take responsibility for their health choices, health outcomes improve and costs decrease.

  
  

Addressing Tennessee's Healthcare Challenges:

• Rural Healthcare Access - Many Tennessee communities face challenges in accessing healthcare, particularly in rural areas. Our reforms focus on removing barriers that prevent healthcare providers from serving these communities effectively.

• Aging Population - Tennessee's growing elderly population needs specialized care and support. Our nursing home investments and expanded services address these demographic realities.

• Mental Health and Addiction - Tennessee faces serious challenges with mental health issues and substance abuse. Our behavioral health investments provide resources for treatment and recovery programs.

• Chronic Disease Management - Many Tennesseans struggle with diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Our reforms focus on early detection and management that prevent complications and reduce costs.

  
  

Fighting Federal Overreach:

• Removing WHO References (HB1226) - We eliminated all references to the World Health Organization from Tennessee law, replacing them with references to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The WHO is an international organization with no authority over American healthcare policy.

• Rejecting International Control - We prohibited requirements from international organizations, such as the WHO, UN, and World Economic Forum, from overriding Tennessee law. Our healthcare decisions will be made by Tennesseans, not global bureaucrats.

  
  

The COVID Lessons:

The pandemic taught us valuable lessons about healthcare freedom and government overreach:

• Emergency powers should be limited and temporary.

• Medical decisions belong to patients and doctors.

• Government mandates often do more harm than good.

• Individual liberty must be protected even during crises.

  
  

Real Impact for Tennessee Families:

Our healthcare reforms deliver tangible benefits:

• Terminally ill patients have more treatment options.

• Cancer patients face fewer barriers to care.

• Vulnerable populations receive increased support and services.

• Patients maintain control over their personal medical information.

  
  

Looking Forward:

We'll continue pursuing healthcare policies that expand access, protect choice, and defend medical freedom. This includes:

• Reducing regulatory barriers that limit healthcare access

• Protecting the doctor-patient relationship from government interference

• Supporting innovation in medical treatments and technologies

• Defending patients' rights to make their own medical decisions

  
  

A Personal Note:

Healthcare touches every family in Tennessee. Whether it's a cancer diagnosis, a difficult pregnancy, or caring for aging parents, we all depend on a healthcare system that puts patients first.

The government's role should be to remove barriers, not create them. We should protect choice, not limit it. We should support innovation, not stifle it.

That's the approach we should take in Tennessee, and that's the approach I'll continue supporting as your representative.

Defending Your Healthcare Freedom,

Michele Reneau

TN State Representative

District 27, Hamilton County