On April 9, 2019, Governor Bill Lee signed one of TPA’s top 2019 legislative priorities into law as Public Chapter 124. The law became effectively immediately upon signing, although it was not published on the Secretary of State’s website until late on Friday, April 12, 2019. This session, TPA and the Tennessee Medical Association worked together to introduce legislation addressing several important patient-centric issues identified during the implementation of Governor Haslam’s 2018 TN Together Opioid Reform Law. TPA members were instrumental in providing feedback about the specific issues related to challenges in implementation of this law, and TPA greatly appreciates the work of bill sponsors and members of the Tennessee General Assembly for recognizing the challenges and enacting this legislation. The new law will ease several of the more burdensome provisions placed on providers and ensure effective and uninterrupted care for patients for whom opioid therapies are necessary.
