Tennessee

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.

Michael Silber2021-06-04T12:57:18-04:00June 4, 2021|Tennessee|

Tennessee

TennCare has released a new provider notice regarding COVID-19 vaccine pharmacy claims. This notice contains two important updates. One includes the addition of Johnson & Johnson vaccines and the single-dose administration payment. The other update involves a newly established Collaborative Pharmacy Practice Agreement (CPPA) to order and administer COVID-19 vaccines for the State’s TennCare population, which includes CoverKids and CoverRx.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Michael Silber2021-03-19T14:15:46-04:00March 19, 2021|Tennessee|

Tennessee

The Department of Health issued a proposed rule that would adopt regulations under RRT 1200-10-04 to establish a process for waiver of the electronic prescription mandate. The rule would allow a prescriber who is unable to comply with the electronic prescription requirement for any controlled-substance prescription to petition for a waiver, establish criteria for consideration, specify the waiver duration, and address the circumstances where electronic prescribing is not available. The rule also would address prescriptions to be dispensed out-of-state. A hearing is scheduled for February 4, 2021, in Nashville. Comment due date is not specified.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Michael Angeloni2020-11-13T08:57:02-05:00November 13, 2020|Tennessee|

Tennessee

The Tennessee Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation (TPREF), a 501(c)3 charitable research subsidiary of TPA, has been awarded a grant from the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) to provide COVID-19 testing packages (tests and testing systems) AT NO COST to pharmacists, to support their communities and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. NOTE: This opportunity is separate from the Tennessee Department of Health BinaxNOW testing program. TPREF COVID-19 Pharmacy Testing Packages will provide successful applicants with a COVID-19 Testing System and COVID-19 Tests. Applications will be evaluated on a “first-come, first-served” basis. To be eligible for a TPREF COVID-19 Pharmacy Testing Package, the pharmacy practice must currently provide (or be prepared to provide) face-to-face patient care services and possess a current CLIA waiver (or receive a CLIA waiver before delivery). When COVID-19 tests and testing systems become available, TPA will arrange the delivery or a pick-up location after all testing packages have been claimed. For more information and to apply for a free COVID-19 Pharmacy Testing Package, CLICK HERE.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Michael Angeloni2020-11-06T12:26:19-05:00November 6, 2020|Tennessee|

Tennessee

The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services issued a final rule to repeal and readopt regulations under RRT 0940-06-01 to update standards on controlled substances. The rule includes the schedules of controlled substances and lists of certain non-narcotic substances, chemical preparations, prescription products, anabolic steroids, and cannabis products that are excluded from the schedules. The rule is effective on December 30, 2020.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Michael Angeloni2020-10-23T10:06:37-04:00October 23, 2020|Tennessee|

Tennessee

The Department of Finance and Administration, Division of TennCare published a recent notice announcing its intentions to revise the Medicaid State Plan to include in the TennCare benefits package buprenorphine-enhanced supportive medication-assisted recovery and treatment, known as “BE-SMART,” for beneficiaries needing treatment for opioid use disorder, effective January 1, 2021. The Department intends to submit the amendment CMS as a revision to the Medicaid state plan. Comments are requested, but a due date is not specified.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Michael Angeloni2020-10-16T09:12:43-04:00October 16, 2020|Tennessee|

Tennessee

According to state law, a pharmacist providing immunizations or CLIA-waived testing services, or a pharmacy technician or other health care professional assisting with these services, must have live OSHA training on bloodborne pathogens every year or face fines. The Tennessee Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation (TPREF) is offering a webinar that meets the OSHA’s training requirements, including the live component. This webinar will provide attendees with one (1.0) contact hour of live ACPE Continuing Education. Please contact Lucy Adkins l ucy@tnpharm.org for more information or click here.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Michael Angeloni2020-11-04T18:10:01-05:00September 25, 2020|Tennessee|

Tennessee

The requirements listed in the Third Amendment to the PREP Act for pharmacists administering vaccines to children include the completion of two hours of ACPE-approved immunization-related CE during each licensing period. Completion of the Tennessee Pharmacy Association’s 2020 Annual Immunization and OSHA Update appears to fulfill this requirement. Click here for more information and registration.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Michael Angeloni2020-09-11T13:42:40-04:00September 11, 2020|Tennessee|

Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) is preparing for all scenarios and is working to identify providers who could administer vaccinations when available. Part of this effort includes working with pharmacists to assess their level of readiness related to the distribution, storage, and administration of COVID-19 vaccinations. TDH has released a survey, seeking to collect information from pharmacies and health care facilities who would like to collaborate with TDH during a pandemic response. The purpose of this survey is to allow TDH to be prepared to distribute resources should they become available. Partnering providers are asked to consider their pharmacy’s or facility’s capacity to store, distribute, and administer the pandemic vaccine to eligible members of the public and/or to the populations they serve. This survey will also assist TDH in understanding pharmacies’ and facilities’ estimated capacity to assist in pandemic response. TDH is asking for responses that would reflect the “average” capacity for vaccine storage, which may vary by season. Of note, vaccines may require storage under freezing or refrigerated temperatures.

If interested, please submit only ONE pandemic survey per pharmacy/facility/physical location, to avoid duplicate information. Please enter complete information when answering questions regarding the pharmacy’s or facility’s storage capabilities. For TDH to approve a pharmacy or facility to store federally purchased vaccines, all requested information and documentation must be provided. Any questions or requests to make changes to the pharmacy or facility information after submission, or to opt-out of being a pandemic provider at a later date, please contact TDH at VPDIP.Pandemic@tn.gov.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Michael Angeloni2020-07-30T15:06:34-04:00July 30, 2020|Tennessee|