The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) is applauding today the enactment of Tennessee Senate Bill (SB) 869/House Bill (HB) 282, led by State Senator/Pharmacist Shane Reeves (R) and State Representative Charlie Baum (R), respectively. The legislation is a major victory for Tennesseans and for the pharmacies serving them across the state.
Signed into law by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) on May 1, the measure will help preserve patient access to pharmacy care by expanding Tennesseans’ options for where they receive vital healthcare services.
Specifically, the newly enacted legislation will help safeguard patient access by allowing pharmacists prescribing rights for the treatment of various medication classes and disease states, including: influenza and COVID-19; all adult immunizations and certain pediatric immunizations; post-exposure prophylaxis for nonoccupational exposure to HIV infection; medications used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose; epinephrine auto-injectors; certain types of hormonal contraceptives; topical fluoride agents; and tuberculin purified protein derivative products (Tb tests).
“Pharmacists are critical to the infrastructure in today’s healthcare system. This law acknowledges that pharmacists have the expertise and skills to provide high-quality patient care,” said Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) CEO Anthony Pudlo. “TPA is thrilled to celebrate the passage of this law that exemplifies how pharmacists contribute to healthcare in more ways than people realize.”
“We applaud Gov. Bill Lee, the Tennessee Pharmacists Association, State Senator Shane Reeves (R), and State Representative Charlie Baum (R) for their tremendous leadership, and for supporting legislation that will greatly enhance Tennesseans’ access to their neighborhood pharmacy and to their medication,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson. “Importantly, this new law will go a long way in helping to ensure continuity of care throughout the state. It also demonstrates the importance of fully utilizing pharmacists’ expertise and training in other states and across the nation, for the ultimate benefit of the patient.”
Pharmacies remain critical access points to needed care — existing within five miles of 90 percent of Americans. A recent poll commissioned by NACDS and conducted by Morning Consult found that 84% of adults in Tennessee say it is very or somewhat easy to access pharmacies, ranking their accessibility the highest among healthcare destinations tested.
Read more about NACDS’ work at the federal and state levels to sustain the pharmacy access that patients rely upon and expect.
