Tennessee wellness law

(a) As used in this section: (1) "Career fatigue": (A) Means a work-related, psychological disorder that manifests in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment; and (B) Does not mean: (i) Substance use disorder; (ii) A mental health condition; or (iii) Another condition that impairs a physician's judgment or adversely affects a physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner; (2) "Health insurance entity" has the same meaning as defined in § 56-7-109 ; (3) "Physician" means a person licensed pursuant to chapter 6 or 9 of this title; and (4) "Physician wellness program": (A) Means the program that: (i) Is organized or contracted for by a statewide advocacy organization that has its principal place of business in this state and that serves physicians licensed to practice medicine in this state; and (ii) Provides counseling, coaching, or similar services to address issues pertaining to career fatigue; and (B) Does not mean a program that provides counseling, coaching, or similar services to address issues related to substance abuse, a mental health condition, or another condition that impairs a physician's judgment or adversely affects the physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner. (b) An individual or entity that provides, discloses, or receives information related to career fatigue as part of a physician wellness program is, with respect to the information provided, disclosed, or received, immune from: (1) Civil liability or a civil cause of action; and (2) An administrative sanction or other proceeding. (c) This section does not: (1) Authorize a physician to withhold information requested in accordance with contractual terms between a health insurance entity and a statewide advocacy organization or information requested in an application used by a health insurance entity for credentialing or contracting purposes, including a Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare application; (2) Waive a physician's obligation to disclose information regarding: (A) A substance use disorder; (B) A mental health condition; or (C) Another condition that impairs the physician's judgment or adversely affects the physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner; or (3) Authorize a statewide advocacy organization to withhold information in accordance with contractual terms between the statewide advocacy organization and a health insurance entity. Added by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 924,s 2, eff. 1/1/2025. (a) As used in this section: (1) "Career fatigue": (A) Means a work-related, psychological disorder that manifests in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment; and (B) Does not mean: (i) Substance use disorder; (ii) A mental health condition; or (iii) Another condition that impairs a physician's judgment or adversely affects a physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner; (2) "Health insurance entity" has the same meaning as defined in § 56-7-109 ; (3) "Physician" means a person licensed pursuant to chapter 6 or 9 of this title; and (4) "Physician wellness program": (A) Means the program that: (i) Is organized or contracted for by a statewide advocacy organization that has its principal place of business in this state and that serves physicians licensed to practice medicine in this state; and (ii) Provides counseling, coaching, or similar services to address issues pertaining to career fatigue; and (B) Does not mean a program that provides counseling, coaching, or similar services to address issues related to substance abuse, a mental health condition, or another condition that impairs a physician's judgment or adversely affects the physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner. r similar services to address issues pertaining to career fatigue; and (B) Does not mean a program that provides counseling, coaching, or similar services to address issues related to substance abuse, a mental health condition, or another condition that impairs a physician's judgment or adversely affects the physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner. (1) "Career fatigue": (A) Means a work-related, psychological disorder that manifests in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment; and (B) Does not mean: (i) Substance use disorder; (ii) A mental health condition; or (iii) Another condition that impairs a physician's judgment or adversely affects a physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner; (A) Means a work-related, psychological disorder that manifests in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment; and (B) Does not mean: (i) Substance use disorder; (ii) A mental health condition; or (iii) Another condition that impairs a physician's judgment or adversely affects a physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner; (i) Substance use disorder; (ii) A mental health condition; or (iii) Another condition that impairs a physician's judgment or adversely affects a physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner; (2) "Health insurance entity" has the same meaning as defined in § 56-7-109 ; (3) "Physician" means a person licensed pursuant to chapter 6 or 9 of this title; and (4) "Physician wellness program": (A) Means the program that: (i) Is organized or contracted for by a statewide advocacy organization that has its principal place of business in this state and that serves physicians licensed to practice medicine in this state; and (ii) Provides counseling, coaching, or similar services to address issues pertaining to career fatigue; and (B) Does not mean a program that provides counseling, coaching, or similar services to address issues related to substance abuse, a mental health condition, or another condition that impairs a physician's judgment or adversely affects the physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner. (A) Means the program that: (i) Is organized or contracted for by a statewide advocacy organization that has its principal place of business in this state and that serves physicians licensed to practice medicine in this state; and (ii) Provides counseling, coaching, or similar services to address issues pertaining to career fatigue; and (i) Is organized or contracted for by a statewide advocacy organization that has its principal place of business in this state and that serves physicians licensed to practice medicine in this state; and (ii) Provides counseling, coaching, or similar services to address issues pertaining to career fatigue; and (B) Does not mean a program that provides counseling, coaching, or similar services to address issues related to substance abuse, a mental health condition, or another condition that impairs a physician's judgment or adversely affects the physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner. (b) An individual or entity that provides, discloses, or receives information related to career fatigue as part of a physician wellness program is, with respect to the information provided, disclosed, or received, immune from: (1) Civil liability or a civil cause of action; and (2) An administrative sanction or other proceeding. (1) Civil liability or a civil cause of action; and (2) An administrative sanction or other proceeding. rovides, discloses, or receives information related to career fatigue as part of a physician wellness program is, with respect to the information provided, disclosed, or received, immune from: (1) Civil liability or a civil cause of action; and (2) An administrative sanction or other proceeding. (1) Civil liability or a civil cause of action; and (2) An administrative sanction or other proceeding. (c) This section does not: (1) Authorize a physician to withhold information requested in accordance with contractual terms between a health insurance entity and a statewide advocacy organization or information requested in an application used by a health insurance entity for credentialing or contracting purposes, including a Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare application; (2) Waive a physician's obligation to disclose information regarding: (A) A substance use disorder; (B) A mental health condition; or (C) Another condition that impairs the physician's judgment or adversely affects the physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner; or (3) Authorize a statewide advocacy organization to withhold information in accordance with contractual terms between the statewide advocacy organization and a health insurance entity. (1) Authorize a physician to withhold information requested in accordance with contractual terms between a health insurance entity and a statewide advocacy organization or information requested in an application used by a health insurance entity for credentialing or contracting purposes, including a Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare application; (2) Waive a physician's obligation to disclose information regarding: (A) A substance use disorder; (B) A mental health condition; or (C) Another condition that impairs the physician's judgment or adversely affects the physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner; or (A) A substance use disorder; (B) A mental health condition; or (C) Another condition that impairs the physician's judgment or adversely affects the physician's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner; or (3) Authorize a statewide advocacy organization to withhold information in accordance with contractual terms between the statewide advocacy organization and a health insurance entity. Added by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 924,s 2, eff. 1/1/2025.