Tennessee Bill Regarding Definition of “Ambulatory Surgical Center” (SB 1280)

SB 1280 excludes from the definition of “ambulatory surgical center” private physicians’ office where 50 or fewer surgical abortions are performed in any calendar year.

This bill requires facilities or physicians’ offices where more than 50 abortions are performed in a calendar year to be licensed as ambulatory surgical treatment centers, and require such offices to convert into mini-hospitals.

STATUS

Signed into law by Gov. Haslam on May 8, 2015. A federal judge blocked the law from being applicable to two clinics: The Women’s Center in Nashville and the Bristol Regional Women’s Center. The states other four clinics already meet the requisite guidelines. (Source.) (See Adams & Boyle, P.C. v. Slatery.)

Companion bill to HB 1368.

SB 50, HB 948, and SB 716 also attempt to redefine ambulatory surgical center, but those bills use different definitional requirements.

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