Amends TCA Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

Tennessee HB0173 amends existing laws regarding reimbursement rates for rural hospitals serving TennCare enrollees by establishing minimum and maximum aggregate rates based on the hospital's current Medicare reimbursement. It specifically affects rural hospitals, defined as those with no more than 49 licensed beds located outside urbanized areas, by setting reimbursement levels for routine inpatient services at a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 120%. Additionally, the bill mandates that the bureau of TennCare provide an updated list of Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Groups (MS-DRGs) directly to participating rural hospitals annually.