Tennessee Restricts Teens’ Access to Preventative Healthcare

Starting July 1, Tennessee teens can no longer receive routine healthcare, including birth control and STI treatment, without parental consent. This change comes from the Department of Health’s interpretation of a new parental rights law.

The New Law

The Family Rights and Responsibilities Act requires parental consent for teens to access healthcare at public health clinics. This law affects services like:

Birth control
STI treatment
Pregnancy testing

Previously, teens aged 14 and older could access these services without parental involvement. Now, they must bring a parent or get verbal consent over the phone.

Impact on Teens

This law significantly impacts teens, especially in rural areas where public health clinics might be their only option for healthcare. Public healthcare providers who don’t follow this law risk losing their licenses and facing legal action from parents.

Lawmakers’ Views

Rep. Jeremy Faison, a Republican from Cosby, supported the bill, emphasizing parental control over children’s healthcare decisions. Sen. Ferrell Haile, a Republican from Gallatin, co-sponsored the measure, which was backed by the Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative Christian legal firm.

Mental Health Services

The law also requires parental consent for counseling and psychological services, though it’s unclear how it will be applied to all mental health professionals. Existing laws may allow exceptions for older teens aged 16 and 17.

Implementation and Responses

The Tennessee Department of Health did not respond to questions about the new policy. Public health clinics in counties like Robertson, Cheatham, Wilson, and Rutherford have started enforcing the new consent requirements.

Maury County Clinic: “If they’re under age 18 they have to have parental consent,” said registered nurse Amber Bailey.
Metro Nashville Public Health Department: Requires signed or verbal consent from a parent or guardian for patients under 18.

Exceptions and Conflicts

There are existing Tennessee laws that allow minors to receive treatment for STIs, prenatal, and postpartum care without parental consent. It’s unclear how these laws will interact with the new parental consent requirements.

Sources

Tennessee Department of Health
Statements from lawmakers
Information from local health clinics

This new law restricts teens’ access to essential healthcare services, raising concerns among health advocates about the potential negative impact on teen health in Tennessee.