Tennessee § 56-7-1016 - Tennessee Health Freedom Act.

§ 56-7-1016. Tennessee Health Freedom Act.

This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Tennessee Health Freedom Act.” As used in this section: “Healthcare services” means any service, treatment, or provision of product for the care of physical or mental disease, illness, injury, defect or condition, or to otherwise maintain or improve physical or mental health, subject to all laws and rules regulating health service providers and products within this state; “Mode of securing” means to purchase directly or on credit or by trade, or to contract for third-party payment by insurance or other legal means authorized by the state, or to apply for or accept employer or government-sponsored healthcare benefits under such conditions as may legally be required as a condition of such benefits, or any combination of the same; “Penalty” means any civil or criminal fine, tax, salary or wage withholding, surcharge, fee or any other imposed consequence established by law or rule of a government or its subdivision or agency that is used to punish or discourage the exercise of rights protected under this chapter. The power to require or regulate a person's choice in the mode of securing healthcare services, or to impose a penalty related thereto, is not found in the Constitution of the United States, and is therefore a power reserved to the people pursuant to the ninth amendment, and to the several states pursuant to the tenth amendment. This state hereby exercises its sovereign power to declare the public policy of this state regarding the right of all persons residing in this state in choosing the mode of securing healthcare services. It is declared that the public policy of this state, consistent with our constitutionally-recognized and inalienable right of liberty, is that every person within this state is and shall be free to choose or to decline to choose any mode of securing healthcare services without penalty or threat of penalty; provided, however, that this title and title 36 concerning requirements for healthcare coverage of children in child support cases shall not be altered in any manner by this section. It is declared that the public policy of this state, consistent with our constitutionally-recognized and inalienable right of liberty, is that every person within this state has the right to purchase health insurance or to refuse to purchase health insurance, unless purchase of health insurance is otherwise a condition of employment. The government may not interfere with a citizen's right to purchase health insurance or with a citizen's right to refuse to purchase health insurance. The government may not enact a law that would restrict these rights or that would impose a form of punishment for exercising either of these rights. Any law to the contrary shall be void ab initio. The policy stated in this section shall not be applied to impair any right of contract related to the provision of healthcare services to any person or group. No public official, employee, or agent of this state or any of its political subdivisions shall act to impose, collect, enforce, or effectuate any penalty in this state that violates the public policy set forth in this section. Acts 2011, ch. 9, § 1.