SB 982 was signed by Governor Bill Lee (R) on May 25, 2021, and removes pharmacies from oversight of the Tennessee Medical Laboratory Board and makes the state list of CLIA waived tests the same as the federal CLIA waived tests, easing previous restrictions on Tennessee pharmacies holding an active CLIA waiver.
Also in Tennessee, HB 1398 which establishes PBM standards around 340B discrimination, prohibits patient steering, prevents spread pricing and below-cost reimbursement as well as a provision, which goes into effect January 1, 2022, that requires a PBM or other health care payer, upon request of an enrollee, health care provider, or authorized third party, to furnish the cost, benefit, and coverage data of a health care plan. The bill was signed by Governor Bill Lee (R) on May 26, 2021, and (unless otherwise indicated) will take effect on July 1, 2021.
Lastly in Tennessee, the Department of Health published a proposed rule to amend, adopt, and repeal regulations under RRT 1140-11 and 1145-01 to require dispensing health care practitioners or their agents to submit specified data to the Controlled Substance Database. The rule also would not require the reporting of Schedule V controlled substances that can be dispensed without a prescription. A hearing is scheduled for August 4, 2021, in Nashville.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.