NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow counselors to deny services and refer clients based on the provider's religious beliefs.

The bill, HB 1840, is prompting such national groups as the American Counseling Association (ACA) and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to speak out against the legislation.

Art Terrazas, ACA director of government affairs, said this is the first piece of legislation nationwide that seeks to nullify a portion of the counseling profession's code of ethics.

"We're getting singled out in a state that, really, we see has a lot of mental health shortage areas," said Terrazas. "And if that person can't seek treatment from a counselor because the counselor decides to deny them service, then that person is going to suffer from that."

According to Terrazas, ethical guidelines mandate that counselors treat a person when they seek help regardless of the person's age, culture, identity, sexual orientation, immigration or socioeconomic status.

HB 1840's companion bill, SB 1556, has already passed the state Senate and is awaiting action by the House.

Supporters of the legislation say the bill protects the constitutional rights of providers.

Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, said aside from the legislation violating a professional code of ethics, it's important to remember the number of Tennesseans who live in rural communities where alternative counseling options may not be available.

"If counselors begin to turn them away, it may be several miles for them to get to the next counselor," said Sanders. "And in a crisis when they're reaching out and ready to get help, being turned away is the most devastating thing that can happen to them."

Terrazas added, in a time when there are regular instances of someone in need of mental help harming themselves or others, it is imperative to make sure counseling is readily available when someone asks for help.

"Look, everybody is somebody's child, somebody's brother, somebody's sister, somebody's grandchild," he said. "And when something happens to them if they harm themselves or harm other people, that is going to have an impact."

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention released a statement expressing its opposition to the legislation.

It reads in part, "There are not enough mental health providers in our country, and we need all of them to practice what they've been trained to do. The lives of the people of Tennessee depend on them."



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United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo - D-Thornton - recently paid a visit to Salud Family Health Centers' mobile clinic.

Each year, Salud serves up to two thousand migrant farmworkers who travel from other states and countries to plant and harvest leafy greens, corn, wheat, sugar beets, and other crops in North Central and Northeastern Colorado.

Director Deborah Salazar said her team always gets a very warm welcome.

"And it's usually the same guys that come to the same farms or greenhouses," said Salazar. "And so it's like seeing old friends. They know who we are, they know what we can do for them, and they trust us. There is trust because we have been doing this for a very long time."

In addition to its 12 brick and mortar health centers, and ten school sites, the mobile unit provides primary health services three to four evenings per week - primarily in rural areas.

They screen workers for diabetes, hypertension, cervical cancer, and anemia. Workers can also get lab tests, and flu and tetanus vaccines.

Salud is a federally qualified community health center that provides medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health care services to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

The first clinic on wheels was acquired in 1980, and Salazar said a brand new unit was rolled out in 2022.

She said her team works to build relationships with farm owners and supervisors to find the best time to plan a visit.

"If they need us to come out and start our visit on the mobile unit at 7 p.m, we can do that," said Salazar. "We are super flexible, because we don't want to interrupt their work day."

Salazar said the medical staff on the mobile unit might be the only people migrant workers see when they are not out planting and harvesting crops.

"These are the folks that put food on our table," said Salazar. "To give them quality, integrated health care - and go to them, so that they are taken care of - this is the least we can do."




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After more than 50 years of use, some Michigan lawmakers say naloxone may not be the best choice in an overdose situation.

Naloxone is sometimes called the "Lazarus drug" because of its powerful ability to seemingly resurrect people after a drug overdose.

Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, and some of his colleagues have introduced a bill which would open the door for what they say are more costly, but more powerful, antidotes.

"Given the prevalence of fentanyl in our communities, and how much stronger some of these drugs that we're now seeing are, we believe -- and in talking with others -- that there should be other tools to respond to an overdose," Hertel explained. "To make sure we're doing everything we can to save somebody's life."

Not everyone is on board with the proposed legislation, Senate Bill 542. Opponents argued the more expensive naloxone alternatives are not necessary, and using them would only increase profits for the pharmaceutical industry.

Jonathan Stoltman, director of the Opioid Policy Institute in Grand Rapids, said while the naloxone alternatives do help in overdose situations, they can also cause nasty side effects.

"The newer approaches, they put people into more severe withdrawal," Stoltman pointed out. "That's a pretty profound negative side effect. The one approach is very inexpensive and works great; the other approach is far more expensive and has this strong negative side effect."

Sponsors of the bill say they're hoping to give Michigan residents a chance to chime in on the issue in a public hearing sometime in June. Michigan saw more than 3,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2021.


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New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those not reimbursed by insurance. More than 56,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in a medical health insurance plan on the state exchange - an increase of 12,000 people overall.

Colin Baillio, deputy superintendent with the state's Office of Insurance, said the state has boosted its outreach and made efforts to improve the overall consumer experience.

"We saw a 40% year-over-year increase, and New Mexico saw the biggest percentage increase during the open-enrollment period among all of the state-based marketplaces," he explained

Part of the enrollment increase is due to what's called the "unwinding" - a federal directive that required all states to redetermine Medicaid eligibility following a three-year pause on checks during the COVID pandemic. He said by using expanded tools made available by the federal and state government, 8% of New Mexico's population is now uninsured - down from 23% in 2010.

Following approval by lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session, the New Mexico governor signed seven health care-related bills into law - one of which requires annual reporting of prescription drug pricing. Baililo said the Affordable Care Act built the foundation that has allowed the state to pursue additional affordability initiatives.

"I'm really glad to see that there's so much interest in the next step of health reform, really leaning into these out-of-pocket cost issues and making it easier for people to afford to stay covered and see their doctors," he continued.

Two years ago, the state also passed a one-of-a-kind law that did away with behavioral health co-pays for people in certain insurance plans.