Tennessee Pharmacists Association

TPA’s 2015 Legislative Agenda

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YouHaveAVoice-TPAThe Tennessee Pharmacists Association is busy on Capitol Hill, advocating for Tennessee’s patients, pharmacists, and pharmacy professionals. We hope you’ll become familiar with TPA’s 2015 legislative agenda and help us achieve our legislative priorities! Information about each bill is provided below, to help you “cut to the chase.”

If one of your legislators is serving on a committee shown below, we encourage you to contact him or her to discuss our position. To learn who is on a given committee and how to contact those legislators, just click on the committee name below.

To read a bill’s summary, click the legislation number shown below, then click the “Summary” tab on the bill page.

If you have any questions, you may reply to this message, click here to contact TPA, or call 615-256-3023.

The following four bills are TPA’s legislative priorities for this year:

PHARMACY DRUG DISPOSAL — SUPPORT

  • Legislation: HB 0229 by Shepard / SB 0409 by Overbey
  • Citation: Pharmacy, Pharmacists – As introduced, authorizes pharmacies to participate in pharmacy drug disposal programs. – Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 10. Also titled the “Ensuring Patient Access to Pharmacy Drug Disposal Programs Act of 2015”.
  • Talking Points/Position Statement
  • Assigned to: Senate Health and Welfare Committee / House Health Committee (Calendar for 3/4)
  • Recent Action: Senate Health and Welfare Committee passed on 2/25 and is now referred to the Senate floor. House Health Subcommittee passed on 2/24 and is now referred to the House Health Committee.

DIABETES SALES TAX — SUPPORT

PHARMACY ROBBERY — SUPPORT
Sentencing Enhancement Factor

PHARMACY ROBBERY — SUPPORT
Mandatory Minimum Sentences and Fine Increases

TPA is also closely monitoring the following legislation:

DEXTROMETHORPHAN REGULATIONS — NO POSITION

  • Legislation: HB 0039 by Lamberth / SB 0045 by Haile.
  • Citation: Criminal Offenses – As introduced, prohibits the retail sale of products containing dextromethorphan to persons who are less than 18 years of age; prohibits the purchase of products containing dextromethorphan by persons who are less than 18 years of age.
  • Assigned to: Senate Judiciary Committee / House Criminal Justice Committee (Calendar for 3/4)
  • Recent Action: House Criminal Justice Subcommittee passed on 2/24 and is now referred to the House Criminal Justice Committee. Senate Judiciary Committee passed with amendments on 2/24 and is now referred to the Senate floor.

90 DAY OPIOID/BZD EXCEPTION — OPPOSE

  • Legislation: HB 0723 by Pody / SB 0021 by Beavers.
  • Citation: As introduced, creates an exception to the prohibition against prescriptions of opioids or benzodiazepines in quantities greater than a 30-day supply when certain conditions are met; if an exception applies, the prescription quantity may not be greater than a 90-day supply.
  • Assigned to: Senate Health & Welfare Committee / House Health Subcommittee

INTERCHANGE OF BIOLOGICALS — SUPPORT IN CONCEPT; OPPOSE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AS INTRODUCED

MEDICATION SYNCHRONIZATION — SUPPORT PHARMACIST INVOLVEMENT IN MEDICATION SYNC PROGRAMS

NURSE INDEPENDENT PRACTICE — NO POSITION

  • Legislation: HB 0456 by Favors / SB 0680 by Massey
  • Citation: As introduced, changes the title of advance practice nurses to advanced practice registered nurses and changes references to their credentials from certificates to licenses; revises other provisions governing the practice of advanced practice nursing.
  • Assigned to: Senate Health & Welfare Committee / House Health Subcommittee

HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT ACT — SUPPORT TEAM-BASED CARE INVOLVING PHARMACIST PROVIDERS

BOARD OF PHARMACY LICENSURE — SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENT

For a complete list of bills being monitored by TPA, please CLICK HERE.