Tennessee House Bill HB0693

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/6/25
• Refer: 2/19/25
• Refer: 3/4/25
• Chaptered: 4/8/25
• Passed: 4/8/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 53, Chapter 10; Title 56, Chapter 32 and Title 63, Chapter 10, relative to pharmacy.

Summary

HB0693 amends several Tennessee statutes governing pharmacy practice, controlled substances, and insurance coverage to expand the role of pharmacists in certain health-related services. The bill adds pharmacists authorized under Tennessee law to provisions that previously referenced only physicians or veterinarians, and it updates pharmacy-related rules so pharmacists can participate in activities tied to those statutes. A major feature of the bill is its treatment of hormonal contraceptives. It changes language in the pharmacy benefit law to prevent insurers or pharmacy benefit arrangements from prohibiting coverage structures that involve pharmacists, and it removes a provision that had barred insured patients from being charged an administrative fee in certain contraceptive situations. The bill also adds pharmacists to a statute governing who may be included in a health insurance or pharmacy benefit framework alongside other providers such as certified nurse midwives.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 53, 56, and 63, affecting pharmacy practice, insurance regulation, and related public health provisions. In practical terms, it broadens pharmacist authority and participation in specified statutory schemes, while also revising how hormonal contraceptive benefits may be administered and covered under pharmacy benefit arrangements. The changes are set to take effect July 1, 2025, and will affect pharmacists, insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, and patients seeking contraceptive services or coverage.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong support and no recorded opposition in committee, with unanimous or near-unanimous votes in the House Health Subcommittee and House Health Committee. The bill appears to have been treated as a routine pharmacy-related measure with broad acceptance, and there is no committee transcript indicating significant controversy. Overall sentiment in the available record is favorable.

Contention

No major contention is reflected in the provided materials. The only potentially sensitive policy area is the contraceptive coverage language, particularly the removal of the explicit prohibition on administrative fees for certain insured patients and the broader insurance-related changes. However, the committee votes were unanimous, suggesting that any concerns were not strong enough to produce recorded opposition in committee.