IMPORTANT VOTES THIS WEEK:
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY!
A number of initiatives impacting pharmacy are being heard in the Tennessee General Assembly this week. Please contact your state legislators TODAY, and let them know where you stand on the important issues described below. TPA encourages you to use the new TPA Tennessee Pharmacists Legislative Action Network (T‑PLAN) web-based email tool to quickly send an email to your state Representative and state Senator, or simply CLICK HERE to find the phone number and other contact information for your state Representative and state Senator.
To visit the TPA T‑PLAN site and to look up your elected officials, please CLICK HERE or enter the following address into your browser: https://www.tnpharm.org/get-involved/legislative-advocacy-center/advocacy-in-action/. T-PLAN simplifies the legislative contact process by using the zip code you provide to automatically identify your elected officials and generate an email to them asking for support, using a pre-written sample letter which is specific to the legislative issue being considered. PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO CUSTOMIZE THE LETTER for your pharmacy practice before you send it!
In 2016, TPA has worked with bill sponsors to introduce legislation which requires TennCare, in collaboration with the various Managed Care Organizations administering the medical benefits on behalf of TennCare, to develop and incorporate a Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program.
Legislation: HB 2398 by Littleton, Shepard, Sexton C. / SB 1882 by McNally, Crowe, Overbey, HaileNext Action:
- Senate: Referred to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
- House: Referred to House Health Subcommittee
This legislation is sponsored by TPA and seeks to increase patient access to life-saving opioid antagonist therapy through a state-wide Collaborative Pharmacy Practice Agreement (CPPA) with the Chief Medical Officer for the Tennessee Department of Health. If enacted, pharmacists can enter into a CPPA to dispense opioid antagonists, effectively reducing barriers to this important medication, effectively reducing the number of opioid overdose deaths and saving the lives of many Tennesseans.
Senate: Scheduled for consideration on the Senate Floor – February 24, 2016House: Scheduled for consideration on the House Floor – February 25, 2016- UPDATE! Passed by the Senate and House and sent to Governor Haslam for his signature!
This legislation is a joint effort between TPA, Southern Pharmacy Cooperative, and other pharmacy organizations. It seeks to clear up language regarding the role of Pharmacy Services Administrative Organizations (PSAO’s) operating in Tennessee by authorizing their participation in the Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) appeal process.Legislation: HB 1697 by Shepard / SB 1789 by Overbey, McNally
Next Action:
- Senate: Scheduled for consideration on the Senate Floor – February 24, 2016
- House: Scheduled for consideration by House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee – February 24, 2016
RESTORATION OF PROPOSED AWP-BASED CUTS TO THE TENNCARE PHARMACY PROGRAM
- AUTHORIZATION FOR MAINTENANCE DISPENSING BY PHARMACISTS(HB 1768 by Sexton C / SB 1786 by Overbey)
- RENEWAL OF THE PRESCRIPTION SAFETY ACT (HB 2571 by McCormick, Brooks K, Hawk, Farmer / SB 2552 by Norris, Yager)
- ENHANCING PENALTIES FOR PHARMACY ROBBERIES (HB 0587 by Shepard / SB 0593 by Haile)
- REPEAL OF THE PROFESSIONAL PRIVILEGE TAX (HB 0678 by VanHuss, Matheny, Butt, Hill M, Keisling, Holt, Womick / SB 0556 by Bowling)
- PHARMACIST-PROVIDED CONTRACEPTIVE THERAPY (HB 1823 by Hazlewood / SB 1677 by Dickerson and HB 1847 by Jernigan / SB 1958 by Yarbro)
- ORAL CHEMOTHERAPY PARITY (HB 2239 by Lamberth, Casada, Littleton, Powers, Kumar, Brooks K, Terry, Powell, McCormick, White M, Butt, Farmer, Towns, Beck, Doss, Akbari, Camper, Kane, Fitzhugh, Johnson, Shepard, Hill M / SB 2091 by Ketron, Green, Beavers, Jackson)
- REGULATION OF PHYSICIAN DISPENSING OF OPIOIDS AND BENZODIAZEPINES (HB 2126 by Terry / SB 2060 by Briggs)
TPA continues to work to protect and advance the profession of pharmacy through advocacy and legislative initiatives, and we appreciate your support! Updates will be provided to TPA members as developments unfold. For questions, please contact the TPA office at 615-256-3023.