Board of Nursing
Public Chapter 644—SB1823/HB1867—Johnson/Zachary
Re: Covid-19 Vaccine Exemptions. This public chapter requires that an employer grant certain exemptions to requirements of proof/receipt of vaccinations if the request for exemption is either (1) supported by signed/date statement by a licensed physician that the staff member has a condition recognized under generally accepted medical standards as a basis for the medical exemption or (2) the staff member attests in writing (including electronic means) that the staff member has a sincerely held religious believe that prevents the staff member from complying the requirement in accordance with guidance from Medicare and Medicaid services. This public chapter creates a civil penalty of $10,000 for violation of this statute.
Effective as of March 11, 2022.
Public Chapter 649—SB1984/HB2046—Walley/Bricken
Re Child Protective Teams. This public chapter authorizes child protective teams that are established in each county to include a representative from one mental health discipline and one appropriately credentialed medical provider, as needed.
Effective as of March 15, 2022.
Public Chapter 664—SB1248/HB1195—Reeves/Garrett
Re Insurance Prior Authorization Notifications. This public chapter requires a healthcare facility to notify a patient of communication between the healthcare facility and a health insurance entity or provider concerning additional information needed to process a prior authorization request for the patient within five business days after the communication has occurred. This requirement does not apply to the TennCare program or a successor program. This public chapter also includes requirements for utilization review agents if needed more information to determine a request for prior authorization.
For the purposes of rulemaking by the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance, effective as of March 18, 2022. For all other purposes, effective on January 1, 2023 and applies to communications made pursuant to insurance policies entered into, issued, renewed, or amended on or after that date.
Public Chapter 680—SB1909/HB1904—Johnson/Faison
Re Autoclave Requirements. This public chapter exempts autoclaves from the clearance requirements of the Board of Boilers Rules if the autoclave sterilizes reusable medical or dental equipment used by an individual licensed under title 68 or 63, is installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, contains a boiler, and is regulated by the FDA.
Effective as of March 28, 2022. The Governor did not sign this public chapter.
Public Chapter 749—SB2572/HB2465—Crowe/Leatherwood
Re Naloxone Standing Order. This public chapter allows licensed healthcare workers to prescribe, directly or through standing order, naloxone or other similarly acting and equally safe drugs approved by the FDA to an organization or municipal or county entity, including but not limited to a recovery organization, hospital, school, or county jail. This public chapter also allows an individual or entity under a standing order to receive and store an opioid antagonist and provide an opioid antagonist directly or indirectly to an individual. Additionally, this public chapter authorizes a first responder acting under a standing order to receive and store an opioid antagonist and to provide an opioid antagonist to an individual at risk of experiencing a drug-related overdose or to a family member friend or other individual in a position to assist an at-risk individual. This public chapter includes “unresponsiveness, decreased level of consciousness, and respiratory depression” to be included within the definition of drug related overdose.
Effective on July 1, 2022.
Public Chapter 756—SB1789/HB2858—Briggs/Kumar
Re Conditions of Participation. This public chapter removes the requirement that a healthcare provider enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid be subject to conditions of participation to be exempt from the definition of “private business” or “governmental entity” for purposes of the Title 14/Covid-19 state laws.
Effective as of March 31, 2022.
Public Chapter 764—SB2427/HB2177—Johnson/Lamberth
Re Drug Paraphernalia. This public chapter excludes narcotic testing equipment used to determine whether a controlled substance contains a synthetic opioid from the definition of “drug paraphernalia” as used within the criminal code unless the narcotic testing equipment is possessed for purposes of the defendant’s commission of certain drug related offenses. This public chapter will be repealed on July 1, 2025.
Effective as of March 31, 2022.
Public Chapter 766—SB2453/HB2655—Yager/Hawk
Re Telehealth. This public chapter extends the ability for healthcare providers to receive reimbursement for healthcare services provided during a telehealth encounter. This public chapter also clarifies that a healthcare provider acting within the scope of a valid license is not prohibited from delivering services through telehealth. Lastly, this public chapter adds that the requirement of an in-person encounter between the healthcare services provider, the provider’s practice group, or the healthcare system and patient within sixteen months prior to the interactive visit is tolled for the duration of a state of emergency declared by the Governor provided that healthcare services provider or patient, or both, are located in the geographical area covered by the state of emergency.
Effective as of April 1, 2022 and applies to insurance policies or contracts issued, entered into, renewed, or amended on or after that date.
Public Chapter 769—SB568/HB702—Johnson/Lamberth
Re Anatomical Gifts. This public chapter prohibits a healthcare provider, a hospital, an ambulatory surgical treatment center, a home care organization or any other entity responsible for matching anatomical gifts or organ donors to potential recipients from, solely on the basis of whether an individual has received or will receive a Covid-19 vaccine, (1) consider an individual ineligible for transplant or receipt of an anatomical gift, (2) deny medical or other services related to transplantation, (3) refuse to refer an individual to a transplant center or specialist, (4) refuse to place an individual on an organ or tissue waiting list, or (5) place an individual at a position on an organ or tissue waiting list lower than the position the person at which the individual would have been placed if not for the individual’s vaccine status.
Effective as of April 8, 2022.
Public Chapter 804—SB1802/HB1763—Reeves/Lamberth
Re Drug Paraphernalia. This public chapter includes pill press devices and pieces of pill press devices to the definition of drug paraphernalia for the purposes of drug offenses. Pill devices or pieces of pill press devices are not included within this definition if used by a person or entity that lawfully possesses drug products in the course of legitimate business activities, such as a pharmacy or pharmacist.
Effective on July 1, 2022 and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
Public Chapter 807—SB1846/HB1843—Watson/Terry
Re HIPPA Compliant Provider-Based Telemedicine. This public chapter recognizes HIPPA complaint audio only conversation for the provision of certain behavioral health services and healthcare services as “provider-based telemedicine” when the use of HIPPA compliant real-time, interactive video, video telecommunications, electronic technology, or store-and-forward telemedicine services are unavailable. Additionally, this public chapter specifies requirements for a healthcare provider, office staff, or party acting on behalf of the healthcare provider submitting for reimbursement of an audio-only encounter.
Effective as of April 8, 2022.
Public Chapter 825—HB2171/SB2421—Lamberth (Terry)/Johnson (Reeves)
Re CSMD. Creates data protection and pathways through the CSMD for reporting of Part 2 data and methadone. Expands data sharing within the CSMD committee process but requires that the commissioner enter into agreements in order to disseminate such data. Health’s Administration Bill.
Effective as of April 14, 2022.
Public Chapter 833—HB1997/SB1936—Cochran/Jackson
Re UAPA. Clarifies that the ALJ shall decide a procedural questions of law. Allows the director of the administrative procedures division of the secretary of state’s office to issue subpoenas. Allows electronic participation in hearings, by agreement of the parties. The hearing officer may allow electronic testimony if the absence of the witness would otherwise cause of delay of the hearing. Requires that a final orders be issued within 90 days. Allows that a petition for reconsideration be filed within 15 days of the entry of the final order or initial order.
Effective as of April 19, 2022.
Public Chapter 881—SB2240/HB2335—Haile/Vaughn
Re Buprenorphine. Prohibits prescribing of buprenorphine via telehealth unless the healthcare provider is employed by a licensed non-residential opioid treatment facility, a community mental health center, an FQHC, a hospital, or through TennCare.
Effective as of April 14, 2022.
Public Chapter 883—SB2285/HB1749—Bell/Ragan
Re UAPA and Judicial Review Standards. Requires that a judge over a contested case not defer to an agency’s interpretation of the statue or rule and shall interpret it de novo. Remaining ambiguity shall be resolved against the agency.
Effective as of April 14, 2022.
Public Chapter 885—SB2401/HB2148—Johnson/Lamberth (Governor’s Admin Bill)
Re ETSU Nursing Center Creation. Creates the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement at ETSU, which will address issues of nursing workforce development. The center may utilize data collected from healthcare facilities licensed under Titles 68, 33, and THEC.
Effective on July 1, 2022.
Public Chapter 896—SB896/HB1960—Bowling/Hulsey
Re Title 14. Eliminates the sunset provisions in Title 14 for the definitions section and for the section that prohibits government entities from mandating vaccinations. Deletes a variety of definitions from the Title.
For the deletion of definitions, effective July 1, 2022 at 12:01 AM. For all other purposes, effective as of April 19, 2022.
Public Chapter 908—SB2188/HB2746—Niceley/Lynn
Re Ivermectin. Permits a pharmacist to enter into a collaborative practice agreement with a physician in order to provide ivermectin. Requires that the Board of Pharmacy adopt rules to establish standard procedures for the provision of ivermectin by pharmacists, including a risk assessment tool and a standardized fact sheet. Provides civil liability protection against pharmacists who dispense ivermectin pursuant to this statute except under gross negligence circumstances.
Effective as of April 22, 2022.
Public Chapter 911—HB2309/SB2464—Freeman/Reeves
Re Professional License Requirements. Mandates that a person seeking a professional license have US citizenship or be authorized under federal law to work in the US as verified by the SAVE Program (allows DACA children who are now adults to obtain professional licensure if not otherwise prevented by the license).
Effective July 1, 2022.
Public Chapter 930—HB1871/SB1982—Hulsey/Hensley
Re Covid Vaccinations and Acquired Immunity. Amends Title 14 to mandate that acquired immunity from a previous Covid-19 infection be treated the same as a Covid-19 vaccination by a governmental entity, school, or local education authority. Mandates that private businesses who require vaccinations also include recognition for acquired immunity for Covid-19.
Effective as of April 11, 2022—This was not signed by Governor.
Public Chapter 949—HB2537/SB2511—Gant/Massey
Re Nurse Practitioners & FQHCs. Extends NPs the ability to write prescriptions at FQHCs. Allows APRNS to collaborate on up to 10 sites with a physician and the physician’s reviews may be done electronically. Allows PAs to collaborate on up to 10 sites with a physician and the physician’s reviews may be done electronically. There shall be an annual review in-person between the physician and the APRN/PA.
Effective as of April 29, 2022.
Public Chapter 953—HB2662/SB2322—Sexton, C./Haile
Re Appointments of Director of Board of Pharmacy & Board of Nursing. The Board of Nursing will hire and fire the executive director of the Board, along with other employees as necessary. The Board of Pharmacy will hire their executive director, who must have 5 years as a licensed pharmacy.
Effective as of April 29, 2022.
Public Chapter 954—HB2667/SB2550—Sexton, C./Jackson
Re Workforce Flexibility for Nurses. Allows the Commissioner to promulgate rules so that during a workforce crisis a nurse from out-of-state can practice on a temporary basis. Allows certain professions to do tasks outside of their scope of practice if approved by the rules. Permits students in respiratory care programs to practice without licensure during a healthcare workforce crisis. The commissioner determines if there is a workforce crisis and shall notify the governor, the Lt. governor, and the Speaker of the House. Flexibility rules also apply to graduate practal nurses.
Effective as of April 29, 2022.
Public Chapter 1001—HB2416/SB2281—Moody/Bell
Re “Tennessee Abortion-Inducing Drug Risk Protocol Act.” Mandates that any abortion-inducing drug must be provided in-person. A qualified physician must examine a patient and determine that there is not an ectopic pregnancy, provide RhoGAM medication if needed, and schedule a follow-up visit with the patient. The physician is required to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the patient appears at that visit and shall document those efforts. It is a E Felony for failure to comply with this law. Failure to comply is also the basis for disciplinary action against the licensee.
For rulemaking purposes, effective as of May 5, 2022. For all other purposes, effective January 1, 2023.
Public Chapter 1049—HB1686/SB1749—Williams/Reeves
Re Alzheimer’s Patients and Payments for Caregivers. “Colonel Thomas G. Bowden Act” Creates a pilot program to provide grants for the purposes of developing payment to caregivers of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. An agency can use its current infrastructure to develop this program but must report the costs. This program runs from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025, and creates an income-based fee structure. Each agency shall provide a report on January 15 of each year of the program.
Effective as of May 25, 2022.
Public Chapter 1054—HB1747/SB1877—Jernigan/Yarbro
Re Cannabanoid Oil and Quadriplegia. Adds quadriplegia to one of the qualifying ailments that can be in legal possession of cannabanoid oil.
Effective as of May 25, 2022.
Public Chapter 1061—HB2228/S2465—Ramsey/Reeves
Re Opioid Antagonists. Requires that a prescriber offer a prescription for an opioid antagonist when issuing a prescription for an opioid if the prescription is for longer than 3 days and there is a history of or suspicion of abuse. This does not apply in palliative care or veterinarian settings. Penalties are included for failure to comply.
Effective on July 1, 2022 and applies to opioid prescriptions issued after that date.
Public Chapter 1068—HB2544/SB2711—Alexander/White
Re Mammograms for Women at 35 Years Old. Requires that a health benefit plan provide access to annual low-dose mammograms and other breast cancer screenings for women between the ages of 35 and 40 if risk factors exist and for those over 40.
Effective as of May 25, 2022.
Public Chapter 1073—HB2665/SB2449—Sexton, McNally
Re Covid Visitation Policies and Limitations on Covid Treatment Exemptions. Clarifies that a prescriber can be disciplined for prescribing controlled substances and/or narcotics for treatment of Covid, if appropriate. In addition, creates a patient advocate process that hospitals must follow during times of covid concern. Allows that person to enter a facility if they agree to follow procedures but provides certain exceptions to access to locations within the hospital.
Effective as of May 25, 2022.
Public Chapter 1094—SB1891/HB1905—Hulsey/Doggett
Re Mandatory Reporting of Fatal Drug Overdoses. Requires that a fatal overdose be reported to law enforcement, including by doctors and nurses.
Effective July 1, 2022.
Public Chapter 1117—SB2448/HB2671—White/Farmer
Re: Extended Liability Protection Against Covid Claims. Extends the liability protection against claims based on Covid exposure until July 1, 2023.
Effective as of June 1, 2022.
Public Chapter 1118—SB2463/HB2347—Reeves/Boyd
Re Staffing Flexibility Study. Requires that the comptroller, in conjunction with TennCare and TDH, study the impact of temporary staffing by healthcare staffing agencies at long-term care facilities. Comptroller’s office required to deliver a report.
Effective as of June 1, 2022.
Public Chapter 1123—SB2574/HB2535—Crowe/Alexander
Re: End-of-Life Visitation at Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities. Requires that nursing homes and assisted living facilities allow for visitation during a disaster, emergency, or public health emergency for Covid-19. Provides an exemption if the visitation would violate federal or state law.
Effective July 1, 2022.
Public Chapter 1135—SB1997/HB2043—Bell/Cochran
Re Tianeptine as Controlled Substance. Classifies Tianeptine and all derivatives thereof as Schedule II controlled substances.
Effective July 1, 2022.
Public Chapter 1138—SB2304/HB2213—Massey/Hazlewood
Re Healthcare Reimbursement Task Force. Creates a task force to study the reimbursement rates of professionals employed in healthcare settings. The task force includes the Commissioner of Health or their designee. The task force is to recommend a strategic plan for the general assembly. Task force ends on December 31, 2023 unless it is reenacted.
For the purposes of appointments, effective as of June 3, 2022. For all other purposes, effective July 1, 2022.
This act prohibits agencies subject to sunset review from promulgating rules or adopting policies to exempt members solely by virtue of their status as members.
This act took effect March 23, 2021.
This act was one of the Department of Health’s legislative initiatives, relative to the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database (CSMD). First, the act authorizes the state’s chief medical examiner, or county medical examiner, to allow designees to approve death investigations. Next, this act allows deidentified CSMD data, rather than only aggregate, to be shared, with the intent of improving information access. Additionally, this act allows for CSMD data to be shared with additional state, county, or federal agencies outside of Tennessee. Lastly, this act decreases the quorum requirements of the CSMD committee by one member, but still have a majority of members present to conduct regular committee business (6).
This act took effect April 13, 2021.
This act simply adds FQHC’s in Tennessee to the definition of healthcare organizations pursuant to the law around quality improvement committees.
This act took effect July 1, 2021.
This act creates a new definition of “store-and-forward telemedicine services” to include the use of asynchronous computer-based communications between the healthcare provider and the patient for the purpose of diagnoses, consultation, or treatment of a patient at a distant site where there may be no in-person exchange.
This act took effect April 13, 2021.
This act authorizes unlicensed graduates of certain medical training programs to provide telehealth services, provided they maintain the same existing standards for telehealth that licensed providers must meet.
This act took effect April 20, 2021.
This act revises the definition of marijuana to clarify that it does not include a product approved as a prescription by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This act took effect April 22, 2021.
This act authorizes records custodians to petition a court for injunctive relief from individuals making frequent public records requests with the intent of disrupting government operations, following a fifth (5th) public records request. A records custodian can only petition a court if they notify the person in writing stating the specific conduct may constitute intent to disrupt government operations, and that the person continues to do so. The individual upon a court enjoinment would not be able to make public requests at the agency for up to one (1) year.
This chapter took effect April 28th, 2021 and will sunset July 1, 2025.
This act establishes requirements for a healthcare provider to follow when either an inpatient in a health care facility, or someone who is seeking services in an emergency department, expresses to the provider a recent threat or attempt at suicide or infliction of bodily harm to themselves. In this scenario, the healthcare provider shall enter the attempt or threat into the patient's medical record. Upon discharge from the facility, the facility shall provide the patient with contact information to access a qualified mental health professional or counseling resource unless the patient is discharged to another facility. This referral requirement can be satisfied by providing contact information for this state's mobile crisis services or the statewide crisis hotline. Lastly, the act states that a healthcare provider who violates this section is subject to discipline by the licensing authority.
This act took effect July 1, 2021.
This act extends the board of nursing to June 30, 2023.
The act took effect April 30, 2021.
This act requires the attorney general and reporter to not approve an emergency rule if the emergency rule does not meet the statutory criteria for adoption of the rule.
This act took effect July 1, 2021.
This act requires that starting December 1, 2023, state agencies submit a report of their effective rules to the chairs of the government operations committee every eight (8) years. The report is required to include a brief description of the department’s operations that each chapter affects, as well as each rule and its administrative history, which would include the original promulgated date and the dates the rule was last amended, if applicable. Additionally, the report would include a determination of each rule on whether it is adheres to current state or federal law or court rulings, should be amended or repealed, reviewed further, or continue in effect without amendment. Lastly, if there are any intentionally false statements in the report, the government operations committee would have the ability to vote to request the general assembly to remove a rule or suspend the department’s rulemaking authority for any reasonable period of time.
This act took effect July 1, 2021.
This act was brought by the Tennessee Hospital Association in an attempt to codify recent practices allowed by executive order in regard to recent nursing school graduates. Graduate nurses may engage in the practice of professional nursing for up to 120 calendar days from the date of receipt of their first authorization to take the NCLEX if certain conditions are met. The practice must be in a licensed healthcare institution or affiliate of the institution. The graduate nurse must be supervised by a licensed nurse and the licensed nurse may only supervise one graduate nurse at a time. Finally, the graduate must show proof of their authorization to take the NCLEX as well as proof of graduation from an approved nursing school within the past 90 days.
This act took effect May 4, 2021.
This act requires fetal remains from a surgical abortion to be disposed of solely by burial or cremation. Under this act, an abortion facility is defined as any ASTC, private office, or other facility as defined by TCA 68-11-201 in which abortions are induced or performed. The act does not include hospitals licensed under Title 68 as long as the hospital policies and regulations concerning disposal of fetal remains substantially complies with the requirements of this act. A pregnant woman who has a surgical abortion has the right to choose burial or cremation of the fetal remains as well as the location for the final disposition. The woman is to be provided with forms created by the Department of Health informing her of that right and selecting the means and location. If the woman does not wish the exercise this right, the abortion facility shall determine whether disposition is by cremation or interment. The act also establishes a variety of record keeping requirements on the facility.
This act took effect on May 6, 2021 for rulemaking purposes. The rest of the public chapter takes effect July 1, 2021.
This act authorizes an exception to existing telehealth requirements governing healthcare providers in Tennessee. In doing so, it allows individuals licensed in another state to practice telehealth in Tennessee while providing healthcare services on a volunteer basis through a free clinic.
This act took effect May 11, 2021.
This act is known as the “Jim Coley Protection for Rape Survivors Act,” and revises existing provisions relative to the protocol for forensic medical examinations of victims of sexually oriented crimes. It requires healthcare providers to notify law enforcement that an evidence collection kit is ready for release within 24 hours of concluding the examination. It also requires law enforcement to pick up the kit for storage or transmission within 48 hours of being notified and revises the storage requirements for maintaining records of the kits. Lastly, in the event that a victim elects not to report the alleged offense to police at the time of examination, the collection kit becomes a hold kid and the healthcare provider is required to assign a number to identify the kit rather than using the victim’s name.
This act partly took effect May 11, 2021, but not for TDH concerns. The rest of the act took effect July 1, 2021.
This act requires public or private entities or businesses that operate a building open to the general public to post signage regarding public restroom access in certain situations. Specifically, this applies to entities or businesses that have restroom policies allowing either biological sex to use any public restroom within their building. The act includes requirements for language, size, location, and even color for the signage. The act excludes unisex, single occupant restrooms or family restrooms intended for use by either sex.
This act took effect July 1, 2021.
This act adds nurses to the list of victims warranting enhanced penalties under the crime of assault against first responders (a Class A misdemeanor), as well aggravated assault of first responder (a Class C felony).
This act takes effect July 1, 2021.
This act specifies that standard medical practice does not involve prescribing hormone treatment for gender dysphoric or gender incongruent prepubertal minors. Additionally, this act prohibits a healthcare prescriber from prescribing a course of treatment that involves hormone treatment therapy for gender dysphoric or gender incongruent prepubertal minors, except when prescribing a course of treatment for diagnoses of growth deficiencies or other diagnoses unrelated to gender dysphoria or gender incongruency.
This act took effect May 18, 2021.
This act requires TDH licensing authorities, upon learning a healthcare prescriber was indicted of certain criminal offenses (controlled substance violations or sexual offenses), to automatically restrict the prescriber’s ability to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances until the case reaches a final disposition. The restriction shall be removed upon sufficient proof of acquittal or dismissal/nolle prosequi. The act further requires licensing authorities to automatically revoke the license of a practitioner that is convicted of those same criminal offenses. A new license shall be granted if the conviction is overturned or reversed (but shall be restricted related to prescribing if the case has not reached final disposition). In addition, the act requires the licensing authority to suspend the license of midlevel practitioner (APRN/PA) upon finding the healthcare professional failed to comply with physician collaboration requirements. Finally, this act requires facility administrators to report certain disciplinary actions concerning licensed personnel to the professionals’ respective boards.
This act took effect May 18, 2021.
This act prohibits the Governor from issuing an executive order and a state agency, department or political subdivision from promulgating, adopting, or enforcing an ordinance or resolution that requires a person to receive an immunization, vaccination, or injection for the SARS-CoV-2 virus or any variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It also deletes the previous override during an epidemic or immediate threat of an epidemic of an objection against vaccination that was made on the basis of religious tenets. The law prohibits requiring the COVID-19 vaccine to attend k-12 schools. The prohibition against requiring vaccines does not apply to governmental entities subject to federal or state statute or rule that prohibits the entity from requiring medical treatment for those who object on religious grounds or right of conscience. The law also does not apply to students of a public institution of higher education delivering healthcare services when the student is participating in/fulfilling requirements of a program in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or another healthcare profession.
This act took effect May 25, 2021.
This act limits an agency’s authority to promulgate rules without a public hearing. There are exceptions to the public hearing requirement. These exceptions include emergency rules, rules that are nonsubstantive modifications to existing rules (like clerical updates), rules that repeal existing rule, or rules that eliminate or reduce a fee described by an existing rule.
This act took effect July 1, 2021.
This act authorizes the joint government operations committee to stay an agency’s rule from going into effect for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days. If the government operations committee determines that subsequent stays are necessary, then the joint committee may issue consecutive stays, each for an additional ninety (90) day period, so long as such stays do not extend beyond the fifth legislative day of the year following the year in which the rule is filed with the secretary of state. The initial stay may be done by either the house or senate government operations committee, but subsequent stays must be by agreement by the committees of both chambers. A stay is effective when the respective committee files written notice with the secretary of state, and the respective committee shall specify the length of effectiveness of the stay.
This act took effect May 25, 2021.
This public chapter establishes the medical cannabis commission which is administratively attached to the department of health for purposes of budgeting, audit, use of IT systems, HR support, clerical assistance and administrative support. The commission is composed of 9 members. The Governor appoints 3 members (1 from each grand division), the Lt. Governor appoints 3 members (1 must be a physician and 1 a pharmacist), and the Speaker of the House appoints 3 members (1 must be a physician and 1 a pharmacist). The commission must be impaneled and hold its first meeting by October 1, 2021. The commission is required to meet at least once every two months prior to March 2023. The commission shall appoint an executive director.
The commission is to examine federal laws and other states’ laws regarding medical use of cannabis, including issues relating to patient qualification, patient registration, role of practitioners in recommending/prescribing, establishing guidelines for acceptable medical uses, development of a standard of care, etc.
This act took effect May 27, 2021.
**These are general summaries of legislation. For more detailed information and all specifics/requirements, please review the links to each public chapter**
This act adds a representative from the Tennessee Nurses Association, a representative from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, as well as the executive director of the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability as members to the Alzheimer’s Advisory Council.
This act took effect on March 6, 2020.
This act extends the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact to June 30, 2028.
The act took effect March 19, 2020.
This act amends the Tennessee Together statutes. It expands the definition of “alternative treatments” by adding “nonopioid medicinal drugs or drug products, occupational therapy, and interventional procedures or treatments.” This is primarily relevant to the treatments that must be disclosed and explained by a healthcare practitioner to a patient or the patient's legal representative as a prerequisite to obtaining informed consent to treatment with an opioid.
This act took effect on March 19, 2020.
This act was the Department of Health’s Licensure Accountability Act. The bill allows all health related boards to take action against a licensee that has been disciplined by another state for any acts or omissions that would constitute grounds for discipline in Tennessee. The law also expands available emergency actions, allowing actions beyond simply a summary suspension. Finally, the act establishes that the notification of law changes to health practitioners can be satisfied by the online posting of law changes by the respective boards. Notice must be maintained online for at least 2 years following the change.
This act took effect March 20, 2020.
This act establishes the Rare Disease Advisory Council under the Bureau of TennCare. The council is comprised of eleven members (nine appointed by the Governor, one by Lt. Governor, one by Speaker of the House). Two physicians with experience treating rare disease and one RN or APRN with experience treating rare disease are among those members to be appointed by the Governor. The council exists to advise TennCare’s pharmacy advisory committee and drug utilization review committee in regard to rare and orphan diseases.
For the purpose of appointing members to the advisory council, this act took effect April 1, 2020. For all other purposes, this act shall take effect July 1, 2020.
This chapter modifies the time period for which a hospital and certain other facilities (community health clinic, birthing center, out-patient “walk-in” clinic, emergency medical services facility) shall receive possession of any newborn infant from the mother wishing to give up the child. Previously the time period was 72 hours. The new time window is 2 weeks.
This act took effect June 15, 2020.
This act prohibits a governmental entity from authorizing destruction of public records if the governmental entity knows the records are subject to a pending public record request. Prior to authorizing destruction of public records an entity must contact the public record request coordinator to ensure the records are not subject to any pending public record requests. Records may still be disposed of in accordance with an established records retention schedule/policy as part of an ordinary course of business as long as the records custodian is without knowledge the records are subject to a pending request.
This act took effect on June 22, 2020.
This act allows certain midlevel practitioners to prescribe buprenorphine when employed in a community mental health center (CMHC) or a federally qualified health center (FQHC). To be eligible under this law, the practitioner must be licensed, and practice as, a family, adult, or psychiatric nurse practitioner or physician assistant. They also must have a DATA waiver issued by SAMHSA/DEA. There can be no limitations or conditions imposed on the provider’s license within the previous three (3) years. Prescriptions by the practitioner must not exceed a sixteen (16) milligram daily equivalent. The practitioner also must not prescribe mono product or buprenorphine without naloxone. The provider may only prescribe buprenorphine products to patients treated through the organization that employs the provider. Prescriptions can only be dispensed by a licensed pharmacy to ensure entry into the CSMD. The provider has a cap of fifty (50) patients at any given time. The law also requires the provider to initiate and lead a discussion regarding patient readiness to taper off medications in their treatment at any time upon the patient’s request, but no later than one (1) year after initiating treatment, and then every six (6) months thereafter.
The facility must employ one or more physicians and have adopted clinical protocols for medication assisted treatment. The midlevel’s collaborating physician must hold an active DATA waiver and be treating patients with buprenorphine at the same facility. The facility must employ providers that accept TennCare and are accepting new TennCare patients. The facility must verify identification of patients. The collaborating physician must review 100% of the charts of patients being prescribed a buprenorphine product and can only collaborate/supervise four (4) nurse practitioners or physician assistants.
This act took effect July 1, 2020.
This act addresses multiple provisions related to abortion in the state of Tennessee. First, it deletes the requirement that the Department of Children’s Services provide court advocates and other information about judicial procedures to minors who are considering abortion.
Second, it establishes an ultrasound requirement. Prior to a woman giving informed consent for an abortion, an ultrasound must be performed. The physician must determine the gestational age and provide it to the woman. There must be a determination of whether a fetal heartbeat exists, and if audible, make it audible to the woman. The physician must show ultrasound images to the woman and explain what they depict. The gestational age and presence or absence of heartbeat must be recorded in the woman’s medical record. The physician must also obtain certification from the woman that she was provided the information required by this statute. The ultrasound requirements of this statute may be delegated by a physician to an ultrasound technician with appropriate certifications/registrations under the statute.
The act also establishes a prohibition on abortions at certain gestational milestones. Abortions are prohibited after detection of a fetal heartbeat, at 6 weeks gestational age or older, as well as 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 weeks gestational age or older. There is a medical emergency exception if certain criteria are met. Abortions are prohibited based on race, sex, or diagnosis of Down syndrome.
It is a class C felony for a physician to perform an abortion in violation of this statute. It is a class E felony for an ultrasound technician to not fulfill delegated duties related to the ultrasound provisions, if that non-performance results in an abortion. A physician charged with violation of this statute must report the charge within seven (7) days to the Board of Medical Examiners.
The final portion of this act requires that certain information be provided regarding reversing chemical abortions. Specifically it requires the conspicuous posting of a sign in offices or facilities providing more than fifty (50) abortions per year which states:
“Recent developing research has indicated that mifepristone alone is not always effective in ending a pregnancy. It may be possible to avoid, cease, or even reverse the intended effects of a chemical abortion utilizing mifepristone if the second pill has not been taken. Please consult with a healthcare professional immediately.”
Failure to post the signage when/where necessary, requires the department of health to assess a $10,000 civil monetary penalty. Each day an abortion is performed without the required signage is a separate violation. The same language on the signage is required to be given to woman in medical discharge instructions after the first drug is given in a chemical abortion.
The majority of this act took effect July 13, 2020. The provisions relating to chemical abortion reversal take effect October 1, 2020.
This act allows certain midlevel practitioners to prescribe buprenorphine when employed in a non-residential office-based opiate treatment facility (OBOT) licensed by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (MHSAS). To be eligible under this law, the practitioner must be licensed, and practice as, a family, adult, or psychiatric nurse practitioner or physician assistant. They also must have a DATA waiver issued by SAMHSA/DEA. Prescriptions by midlevel providers under this statute are capped at a sixteen (16) milligram daily dose, and must not be for a mono-product or buprenorphine without naloxone, except when utilizing injectable or implantable buprenorphine products. Midlevel providers under this statute are capped at 100 patients.
The OBOT in these situations must employ the midlevel’s collaborating physician (who also must hold an active DATA waiver and be treating patients with buprenorphine at the same OBOT) and the OBOT must not have the authority to dispense buprenorphine products. The collaborating/supervising physician under this statute cannot supervise more than two (2) midlevel practitioners.
The OBOT also must employ providers that are credentialed and contracted to accept TennCare patients and bill TennCare for services for treatment of opioid use disorder with buprenorphine. Finally the OBOT must be accepting new TennCare patients.
This act took effect August 1, 2020.
This act allows a qualified registered nurse, if the nurse has a cooperative working relationship with a physician and follows hospital protocols, to determine whether a patient presenting to a hospital has an emergency medical condition. Emergency medical condition and qualified registered nurse are defined in the statute. This legislation was brought by the Tennessee Hospital Association. This act took effect March 20, 2019.
This act states that an entity responsible for an AED program is immune from civil liability for personal injury caused by maintenance or use of an AED if such conduct does not rise to the level of willful or wanton misconduct or gross negligence. This act took effect on March 28, 2019.
This act defines “alternative treatments” to 63-1-164 pertaining to the restrictions and limitations on treating patients with opioids. This act took effect April 9, 2019.
This act makes a variety of small changes and additions to the TN Together opioid initiative put in place in 2018. One addition is allowing access to CSMD data to a healthcare practitioner under review by a quality improvement committee (QIC), as well as to the QIC, if the information is furnished by a healthcare practitioner who is the subject of the review by the QIC.
The requirement for e-prescribing of all schedule II substances by January 1, 2020 has been delayed to January 1, 2021 and is modified to require all schedule II through V prescriptions to be e-prescribed except under certain circumstances. The law also requires all pharmacy dispensing software vendors operating in the state to update their systems to allow for partial filling of controlled substances.
Definitions are given by this act to the terms palliative care, severe burn and major physical trauma. Along with its new definition, palliative care has now joined severe burn and major physical trauma as an exception to the opioid dosage limits otherwise required under TN Together.
An unintended consequence of last year’s Public Chapter 1039 was on cough syrup. This act establishes that the law does not apply to opioids approved by the FDA to treat upper respiratory symptoms or cough, but limits such cough syrup to a 14 day supply.
Also changed from last year’s act is the requirement to partial fill. Partial filling of opioids is now permissive.
Finally, the opioid limits under have been simplified from the previous year’s act. The twenty day supply and morphine milligram equivalent limit has been eliminated. Three day and ten day requirements remain the same. Instances such as more than minimally invasive surgery, which previously fell under the twenty day provision, now can be treated under the limits of the thirty day category. This act took effect on April 9, 2019.
This act amends the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco and Vapor Products Act by limiting the places in which one may use vapor products. The act defines vapor products and prohibits the use of such products in a number of locations including child care centers, group care homes, healthcare facilities (excluding nursing homes), residential treatment facilities, school grounds, and several other areas. Several locations have specific exceptions set forth in the statute. This act took effect on April 17, 2019.
This public chapter creates a commemorative certificate of nonviable birth. The licensed healthcare practitioner who attends or diagnoses a nonviable birth, may, based on the practitioner’s best medical judgment and knowledge of the patient, advise a patient that experiences a nonviable birth that the patient may obtain a commemorative certificate from the Department of Health. The Department shall provide a form on its website that the practitioner shall execute and provide to the patient. Upon the request of the patient, the Department shall issue the commemorative certificate within 60 days after the request and shall charge a fee not to exceed the actual cost for issuing the certificate. This act took effect April 18, 2019.
This act permits advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs) working in a community mental health center to have their chart review done remotely by their collaborating physician. The electronic means by which the transmission occurs must be HIPAA- compliant. This act took effect April 23, 2019.
Although this act largely pertains to boards governed by the Department of Commerce and Insurance, one small section applies to the health related boards. In that section, the act removes the requirement that a member of the armed forces and/or their spouse who requests an expedited license must have left current employment in another state. This section applies to all health related boards. The Commissioner of Health is permitted to promulgate rules, but rules are not needed to implement the act. This act takes effect July 1, 2019.
This act repeals the boutique ultrasound statute from 2018 which set forth minimum standards for any person practicing ultrasound sonography in a nonclinical 3D/4D ultrasound boutique setting. This act took effect April 30, 2019.
This act allows healthcare professionals to accept goods or services as payment in direct exchange of barter for healthcare services. Bartering is only permissible if the patient to whom services are provided is not covered by health insurance. All barters accepted by a healthcare professional must be submitted to the IRS annually. This act does not apply to healthcare services provided at a pain management clinic. This act took effect April 30, 2019.
This act mandates that an agency that requires a person applying for a license to engage in an occupation, trade, or profession in this state to take an examination must provide appropriate accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Any state agency that administers a required examination for licensure (except for examinations required by federal law) shall promulgate rules in regard to eligibility criteria. This legislation was introduced to assist individuals with dyslexia. This act took effect May 2, 2019 for the purpose of promulgating rules, and for all other purposes, takes effect July 1, 2020.
This act prohibits any person who is not licensed or certified by the Board of Nursing from using the title “nurse” or any other title that implies that the person is a practicing nurse. The Board is empowered to petition any circuit or chancery court having jurisdiction to enjoin: (1) a person attempting to practice or practicing nursing without a valid license; (2) a licensee found guilty of any of the acts listed in 63-7-115; or (3) any person using the title “nurse” who does not possess valid license or certificate from the Board. This act took effect May 2, 2019.
The act permits a medical professional who has a current license to practice from another state, commonwealth territory, or the District of Columbia is exempt from the licensure requirements of such boards if: (1) the medical professional is a member of the armed forces; and (2) the medical professional is engaged in the practice of the medical profession listed in 68-1-101 through a partnership with the federal Innovative Readiness Training. The respective health boards may promulgate rules for implementation. This act took effect April 18, 2019 for the purpose of promulgating rules, and for all other purposes, takes effect July 1, 2019.
This act rewrites the criminal offense for female genital mutilation. Those who knowingly mutilate a female, facilitate the mutilation, or knowingly transport or facilitate the transportation of a female for the purposes of mutilation are subject to a class D felony. Such individuals are also liable civilly. Any physician, physician in training, certified nurse or midwife or any other medical professional that performs, participates in, or facilitates a mutilation shall be subject to disciplinary action by the appropriate licensing board in addition to criminal penalties. Certain medical procedures listed in the statute are not considered violations. This act takes effect July 1, 2019.
This act permits the Department of Health to seek federal grants from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, or other entities, for the purpose of developing a training program for certified nurse practitioners in treating and processing minors victimized by certain sexual offenses. This act took effect April 30, 2019.
This act requires the Department of Health to include data related to complications of induced abortions, including the number and type of complications in its annual induced termination of pregnancy (ITOP) data report. The department shall not release any data that could identify individual patients. The department may promulgate rules necessary to implement this act. This act took effect May 8, 2019 for the purpose of promulgating rules, and for all other purposes will take effect July 7, 2019.
This act modifies the definition of registered nurse first assistant (RNFA) by authorizing an RNFA to demonstrate certificate by either (1) being certified in perioperative nursing or (2) being both certified as an advanced practice registered nurse and qualified by education and training to perform tasks involved in perioperative nursing. This act goes into effect immediately for the purpose of promulgating rules and otherwise goes into effect July 1, 2020.
This act requires the Commissioner of Health, by January 1, 2020, to study instances when co-prescribing of naloxone with an opioid is beneficial and publish the results to each prescribing board and to the board of pharmacy. The findings shall be included in the chronic pain guidelines adopted by the Chronic Pain Guidelines Committee. This act took effect May 8, 2019.
This act permits law enforcement agencies to subpoena materials and documents pertaining to an investigation conducted by the Department of Health prior to formal disciplinary charges being filed against the provider. This bill was brought by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. This act went into effect May 22, 2019.
This law requires an agency holding a public hearing as part of its rulemaking process, to make copies of the rule available in “redline form” to people attending the hearing. This takes effect July 1, 2018.
This chapter prohibits healthcare prescribers and their employees, agents, or independent contractors from in-person solicitation, telemarketing, or telephonic solicitation of victims within 30 days of an accident or disaster for the purpose of marketing services of the healing arts related to the accident or disaster. There are specific exceptions laid out in the chapter. This act takes effect July 1, 2018.
This chapter allows buprenorphine mono or buprenorphine without naloxone to be directly administered by a healthcare provider acting within the scope of practice. The administration must be for a substance use disorder and pursuant to a medical or prescription order from a physician licensed under title 63 chapter 6 or 9. This does not allow dispensing that would permit administration away from the premises at which it is dispensed. This act took effect April 12, 2018.
This act requires the department of health to accept allegations of opioid abuse or diversion and for the department to publicize a means of reporting allegations.
Any entity that prescribes, dispenses, OR handles opioids is required to provide information to employees about reporting suspected opioid abuse/diversion. That notice is to either be provided individually to the employee in writing and documented by the employer OR by posting a sign in a conspicuous, non-public area of minimum height and width stating: “NOTICE: PLEASE REPORT ANY SUSPECTED ABUSE OR DIVERSION OF OPIOIDS, OR ANY OTHER IMPROPER BEHAVIOR WITH RESPECT TO OPIOIDS, TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S COMPLAINT INTAKE LINE: 800-852-2187.”
Whistleblower protections are also established. An individual who makes a report in good faith may not be terminated or suffer adverse licensure action solely based on the report. The individual also is immune from any civil liability related to a good faith report. This act takes effect January 1, 2019.
This statute allows a licensing entity the discretion to not suspend/deny/revoke a license in cases where the licensee has defaulted or become delinquent on student loans IF a medical hardship significantly contributed to the default or delinquency. This act took effect January 1, 2019.
Public Chapter 745 and Public Chapter 793
These public chapters work together to create and implement the “Fresh Start Act.” Licensing authorities are prohibited from denying an application or renewal for a license/certificate/registration due to a prior criminal conviction that does not directly relate to the applicable occupation. Lays out the requirements on the licensing authorities as well as the exceptions to the law (ex: rebuttable presumption regarding A and B level felonies). These acts take effect July 1, 2018.
This chapter updates the specific language required to be in the notice given to mammogram patients that are revealed to have dense breasts or extremely dense breasts. This act takes effect July 1, 2018.
This chapter prevents any board, commission, committee, etc. created by statute from promulgating rules, issuing statements, or issuing intra-agency memoranda that infringe on an entity member’s freedom of speech.
Freedom of speech includes, but is not limited to, a member’s freedom to express an opinion concerning any matter relating to that governmental entity, excluding matters deemed to be confidential under TCA 10-7-504.
Violations as determined by a joint evaluation committee may result in recommendations to the general assembly concerning the entity’s sunset status, rulemaking authority and funding. This act took effect April 18, 2018.
This act requires the department of education to establish a student support collaborative to review and define the roles and responsibilities for school social workers, school counselors, school psychologists, and school nurses. The collaborative shall identify available resources and areas the groups can collaborate on to provide high quality support to students. The collaborative shall include (among others) representatives of:
1. The National Association of Social Workers, TN Chapter
2. The Tennessee Association of School Social Workers
3. The Tennessee Association of School Counselors
4. The Tennessee Association of School Nurses
5. The Tennessee Association of School Psychologists
This act took effect April 26, 2018.
This act requires that induced termination of pregnancy (ITOP) reports to include whether a heartbeat was detected IF an ultrasound was performed prior to the ITOP. The department of health shall include data about the detection of heartbeats and the method employed for ITOPs in an annual report. The report shall differentiate between medical and surgical methods and between surgical methods to the extent data permits.
This act also requires that if an ultrasound is performed prior to an abortion, the person who performs the ultrasound shall offer the woman the opportunity to learn the results of the ultrasound. If the woman elects to learn the results, the person performing the ultrasound or a qualified healthcare provider shall inform her of the presence or absence of a heartbeat and document that the patient was informed. This act takes effect January 1, 2019.
This act lays the framework for e-prescribing practices in the state and the exceptions from electronic prescriptions. Requires that all Schedule II prescriptions be e-prescribed by January 1, 2020 except under certain circumstances. Any health-related board under TCA 68-1-101(a)(8) that is affected by this act shall report to the general assembly by January 1, 2019 on issues related to the implementation of this section. The commissioner of health is authorized to promulgate rules to effectuate the purposes of this act. This act took effect May 3, 2018 for rule purposes. The act takes effect January 1, 2019 for all other purposes.
This act requires that prior to prescribing more than a three day supply of an opioid or an opioid dosage that exceeds at total of 180 MME to a woman of childbearing age (15-44 yo), a prescriber must do the following:
1. Advise of risks associated with opioid use during pregnancy;
2. Counsel patient on effective forms of birth control; and
3. Offer information on availability of free or reduced cost birth control
Doesn’t apply if previously informed by prescriber in previous three months or prescriber reasonably believes patient is incapable of becoming pregnant. Requirements may be met with a patient under 18 years of age by informing parent of the patient.
The department of health is to publish guidance to assist prescribers in complying with this act. This act takes effect July 1, 2018.
This act redefines policy and rule and requires each agency to submit a list of all policies, with certain exceptions, that have been adopted or changed in the previous year to the chairs of the government operations committees on July 1 of each year. The submission shall include a summary of the policy and the justification for adopting a policy instead of a rule.
This act also prohibits any policy or rule by any agency that infringes upon an agency member’s freedom of speech. Finally, this act establishes that an agency’s appointing authority shall have the sole power to remove a member from a board, committee, etc. This act takes effect July 1, 2018 and applies to policies adopted on or after that date.
This legislation requires the initial licensure fee for low-income persons to be waived. Low income individuals per the statute are defined as persons who are enrolled in a state or federal public assistance program including but not limited to TANF, Medicaid, and SNAP. All licensing authorities are required to promulgate rules to effectuate the purposes of this act. This act takes effect January 1, 2019.
This legislation requires the department of children’s services (DCS) to develop instructional guidelines for child safety training programs by January 1, 2019 for members of professions that frequently deal with children at risk of abuse. DCS is required to work with each licensing board to ensure any child safety programs created by a licensing board fully and accurately reflect the best practices for identifying and reporting abuse as appropriate for each profession. This act took effect May 15, 2018. Child Abuse Reporting Training
This act makes a number of revisions to opioid treatment regulations. The definition of “nonresidential office-based opiate treatment facility” (OBOT) has been changed to encompass more facilities.
The commissioner of mental health is required to revise the rules of OBOTs to be consistent with state and federal law for such facilities to establish certain new protocols.
Rules regarding OBOTs are to be reviewed each even-numbered year and the department of mental health and substance abuse services shall submit the rules for OBOTs to each health related board that licenses any practitioner authorized by the state to prescribe products for treatment of an opioid use disorder. Each board is required to enforce the rules. Each board is required to post the rules on the board’s website. Violation of a rule is grounds for disciplinary action by the board.
The act also makes revisions to the licensing fees of OBOTs.
The act requires revision of the buprenorphine treatment guidelines.
The legislation also requires (subject to 42 CFR part 2) that dispensing of buprenorphine be subject to the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database (CSMD) requirements.
The act prohibits dispensing of buprenorphine except by certain individuals/facilities and requires pharmacies/distributors to report to the department of health (TDH) the quantities of buprenorphine that are delivered to OBOTs in the state.
The act also makes revisions to the high-volume prescriber list compiled by TDH.
The act requires the comptroller to complete a study of statistically abnormal prescribing patterns. After the study, TDH shall identify prescribers and shall inquire with the boards of action taken against the prescribers and the board is required to respond within 30 days. Each board is required to report the total number of prescribers disciplined each year, as well as other information. TDH shall report a summary of the data and of the disciplinary actions to the chairs of the health committees.
The act also comprises a task force to create minimum disciplinary actions for prescribing practices that are a significant deviation from sound medical judgment. The board of medical examiners, osteopathic examination, dentistry, podiatric medical examiners, optometry, nursing and medical examiner’s committee on physician assistants shall select one member each for the task force before September 1, 2018.
This act took effect for rulemaking on May 21, 2018 and takes effect July 1, 2018 for all other purposes.
This act allows for a prescription for a controlled substance to be partial filled if requested by the patient or the practitioner who wrote the prescription AND the total quantity dispensed through partial fills does not exceed the total quantity prescribed for the original prescription. The act lays out the requirements on the pharmacists and gives details regarding payments. This act takes effect January 1, 2019.
This act allows for appeals of contested case hearings to be in the chancery court nearest the residence of the person contesting the agency action or at that person’s discretion, in the chancery court nearest the place the action arose, or in the chancery court of Davidson County. Petitions seeking review must be filed within 60 days after entry of the agency’s final order. This act takes effect July 1, 2018.
This legislation places limits and requirements on the amount of opioids prescribed and dispensed. It limits opioid prescriptions to up to a three day supply with a total of 180 MME (morphine milligram equivalents) for those three days. This limitation is subject to a number of exceptions under certain circumstances. These exceptions include up to a ten day supply with a total of 500 MME, up to a twenty day supply with a total of 850 MME for a procedure that is more than minimally invasive, and up to a thirty day supply with a total of 1200 MME when other reasonable and appropriate non-opioid treatments have been attempted and failed and the risk of adverse effects from the pain exceeds the risk of the patient developing an addiction or overdose. Prescribing under these exceptions requires the prescriber to check the controlled substance monitoring database, personally conduct a physical exam of the patient, consider non-opioid alternatives, obtain informed consent including counseling about neonatal abstinence syndrome and contraception for women of childbearing age, and document the ICD-10 code for the patient’s primary disease as well as the term “medical necessity” on thirty day prescriptions). These ten, twenty, and thirty day opioid prescriptions will only be filled by dispensers in an amount that is half of the full prescription at a time, requiring patients and pharmacists to consider whether the patient requires the full amount prescribed. There are still further exceptions for those patients undergoing active or palliative cancer treatment, receiving hospice care, diagnosed with sickle cell disease, administered to in a hospital, being treated by a pain management specialist or collaborating provider in a pain management clinic, who have received ninety days or more in the year prior to April 2018 or subsequently do so under one of the exceptions, receiving treatment for medication-assisted treatment, or suffering severe burns or major physical trauma. This act took effect for rule purposes on May 21, 2018, and for all other purposes shall take effect July 1, 2018.
Current law authorizes physicians and health officers to treat minors with STDs without parental knowledge or consent and incur no civil or criminal liability except for negligence. This legislation adds nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and physician’s assistants to those authorized to treat minors with STDs without parental knowledge or consent. This act took effect on July 1, 2017.
This legislation revises the terminology used to describe the relationship between APRN’s and physicians in certain situations and instances in the Code from “supervise, supervision, etc.” to “collaborate, collaboration, etc.” The situations are:
- Practice in a certified pain clinic under T.C.A. 63-3-106.
- Prescriptive services under T.C.A. 63-7-123.
- Definition of Prescription Order under T.C.A. 63-10-204.
- Collaborative Practice Pharmacy Agreements under T.C.A. 63-10-217.
- The Health Care Consumer Right-to-Know Act of 1998 under T.C.A. 63-51-115.
- Top Prescribers of Controlled Substances under T.C.A. 68-1-128.
The intent of the legislation is a change in terminology only and not to alter the relationships and responsibilities between APRN’s and physicians. This legislation took effect on July 1, 2017.
This will allow healthcare providers to satisfy one hour of continuing education requirements through the performance of one hour of voluntary provision of healthcare services. The maximum amount of annual hours of continuing education that a provider can receive through providing volunteer healthcare services is the lesser of 8 hours or 20% of the provider’s annual continuing education requirement. The legislations allows for rulemaking by the division of health related boards in order to administer this section. This took effect on May 12, 2017.
This requires TDH, beginning July 1, 2017, to identify high-risk prescribers based on clinical outcomes including patient overdoses and makes the prescribers subject to selected chart review and investigation by TDH. It requires TDH, if a prescriber is identified as a high-risk prescriber, to submit the high-risk prescriber’s information to the board that issued the prescriber’s license for appropriate action. It requires the licensing board, upon receiving the information, to notify the prescriber, and, if applicable, the prescriber’s supervising physician, of their high-risk status and require the prescriber to meet certain criteria. If a prescriber is identified as high risk, he or she must:
- Participate in continuing education about opioid addiction.
- Make opioid addiction literature available in the prescriber’s waiting room.
- Obtain written consent from certain long-term opioid patients.This consent must be renewed every 4 weeks for patients who remain on opioid therapy.
- Comply with these requirements for one year.
All costs associated with this section are to be paid by the identified provider. Providers identified as high-risk who dispute such identification may request TDH to conduct an internal review of the identification, which is to be done by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
Additionally, this legislation requires the Commissioner, on or before January 15, 2018, in consultation with the Perinatal Advisory Committee and with the assistance of relevant state agencies, to report to the Health Committee of the House of Representatives and the Health and Welfare Committee of the Senate concerning the aspects of births involving neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and opioid use by women of childbearing age for the last two available fiscal years or calendar years. It also requires TennCare to issue RFIs for initiatives aimed at primary and secondary prevention of NAS births.
This act took effect on June 6, 2017.
This will require state governmental entities that establish or adopt guides to practice to do so through the promulgation of rules, rather than policy. The rules so promulgated must specify all provisions included in and relating to the guide to practice. Any changes to guides to practice made after the guides are adopted must also be promulgated by rule in order to be effective. For purposes of this part, guides to practice includes codes of ethics and other quality standards, but does not include tests, examinations, building codes, safety codes, or drug standards. This legislation took effect on April 28, 2017.
This legislation requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Board of Nursing, Board of Pharmacy, Department of Health and Department of Children’s Services, to adopt rules for the administration of adrenal insufficiency medication to students by school personnel. Educational training on the treatment of adrenal insufficiency required by this legislation shall be conducted under the supervision of a physician or nurse practitioner. This legislation took effect on July 1, 2017.
This authorizes local education agencies and nonpublic schools to maintain opioid antagonists in schools. A school nurse or other trained school personnel may administer opioid antagonists to respond to drug overdoses, under a standing protocol from a physician. A school nurse or other trained school personnel will not be held responsible for resulting injury unless the medication was administered with an intentional disregard for safety. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, shall develop guidelines for schools. This took effect on July 1, 2017.
This legislation was brought by the Department of Health and was designed to address a number of issues throughout all licensing boards, committees, and councils. This legislation will:
- Insure the integrity of licensure examinations by making examination questions, answer sheets, scoring keys, and other examination data confidential and closed to public inspection.
- Allow the issuance of limited licenses to applicants who have been out of clinical practice or inactive, or who are engaged in administrative practice.Limited licenses may be of restricted scope, restricted duration, and have additional conditions placed upon them in order to obtain full licensure.
- Clarify that other documents prepared by or on behalf of the Department with regard to an investigation are confidential until such time as formal disciplinary charges are filed against the provider.
- Eliminate the “locality rule” for administrative law.
- Require the chief administrative official for each health care facility to report within 60 days any disciplinary action taken against an employee for matters related to ethics, incompetence or negligence, moral turpitude, or substance abuse, to the employee’s respective licensing board.All records pertaining to the disciplinary action shall be made available for examination to the licensing board.
This act became effective on May 2, 2017.
This legislation creates a new violation of a healthcare practitioner’s practice act if that practitioner refuses to submit to or tests positive for any drug the practitioner does not have a lawful prescription for or a valid medical reason for using the drug. It is the duty of the employer to report any violation to the Department of Health. If the practitioner fails a drug test, the practitioner has 3 business days to either produce the requisite prescription or medical reason, or report to their board approved peer assistance program. If the practitioner does not comply with any of these measures, it is the duty of the employer to report this violation of the practice act to the employee’s licensing board for investigation and action. If the practitioner reports to the peer assistance program and obtains and maintains advocacy of the program, the employer is not required to notify the board.
As long as a practitioner obtains, maintains and complies with the terms of a peer assistance program, the board shall not take action on the licensee for the sole reason of a failed or refused drug test. If a practitioner fails to obtain or maintain advocacy from the peer assistance program, the program is required to report that information to the appropriate licensing board. The board SHALL suspend the license of a practitioner who fails to comply with the terms of the program. Employer drug testing must be compliant with the Drug-free Workplace requirements. This legislation allows a quality improvement committee to share information regarding substance abuse by a practitioner with other quality improvement committees. Additionally, this legislation specifies that the Department of Health is not required to obtain prior approval from the Attorney General in order to take any emergency action on a licensee. This legislation took effect on July 1, 2017.
This legislation authorizes commissioners or supervising officials of departments to evaluate certain actions by a regulatory board to determine whether the action may constitute a potentially unreasonable restraint of trade. Supervising officials must ensure that the actions of regulatory boards that displace competition are consistent with a clearly articulated state policy. If a board action constitutes a potentially unreasonably restraint of free trade, the supervising official must conduct a further review of the action and either approve, remand or veto the action. The supervising official may not be licensed by, participate in, or have a financial interest in the occupation, business or trade regulated by the board who is subject to further review, nor be a voting or ex officio member of the board. The supervising official must provide written notice of any vetoed actions to the senate and house government operations committees.
Prior to filing a regulatory board's rule with the secretary of state, the commissioner or chief executive officer of the administrative department under which a regulatory board operates or to which a regulatory board is administratively attached, or a designee to the extent a conflict of interest may exist with respect to the commissioner or chief executive officer, must remand a rule that may constitute a potentially unreasonable restraint of trade to the regulatory board for additional information, further proceedings, or modification, if the rule is not consistent with a clearly articulated state policy or law established by the general assembly with respect to the regulatory board. This act took effect on April 24, 2017.