Opioids - As enacted, clarifies that a physician licensed in this state is the only healthcare provider authorized to prescribe a buprenorphine product for a FDA-approved use in recovery or medication-assisted treatment;, the official text

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                        ~tate of \!Cennessee

                          PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 295

                                                  HOUSE BILL NO. 1239

                                By Representatives Helton-Haynes, Parkinson

                                        Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 421

                              By Senators Reeves, Yarbro, Campbell, Jackson

         AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33; Title 41; Title 53 and Title 63,
relative to healthcare prescribers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 53-11-311, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:

                    U)

                              (1) Notwithstanding this title to the contrary, and except as otherwise
                    provided in this section, a physician licensed under title 63, chapter 6 or 9, is the
                    only healthcare provider authorized to prescribe a buprenorphine product for a
                    federal food and drug administration-approved use in recovery or medication-
                    assisted treatment.

                              (2) Healthcare providers not licensed pursuant to title 63, chapter 6 or 9,
                    and who are otherwise permitted to prescribe Schedule II or Ill drugs under this
                    title are prohibited from prescribing a buprenorphine product for the treatment of
                    opioid use disorder unless the provider:

                                        (A) Has an active registration with the federal drug enforcement
                              agency;

                                        (8) Is employed by or contracts with a state correctional facility, as
                              defined in § 41-21-206, or a county or municipal jail to provide healthcare
                              services;

                                        (C) Has adopted clinical protocols for the facilitation or
                              continuance of medication-assisted treatment for persons who are
                              incarcerated in or to be released from such state correctional facility or
                              county or municipal jail;

                                        (D) Writes prescriptions for buprenorphine to no more than fifty
                              (50) patients at any given time;

                                        (E) Collaborates with a physician who reviews one hundred
                              percent (100%) of the charts of the patients being prescribed a
                              buprenorphine product;

                                         (F) Is supervised by or collaborates with a physician who is limited
                              to the supervision of, or collaboration for, a maximum of five (5) licensed
                               nurse practitioners or physician assistants;

                                         (G) Does not write any prescription for a buprenorphine product
                               that exceeds a sixteen-milligram daily equivalent;

                                         (H) Has had no limitations or conditions imposed on the provider's
                               license by the provider's licensing authority within the previous three (3)
                               years; and
HB1239
                                        (I) Prescribes buprenorphine products only to patients who are

                              treated through the correctional facility that employs the provider.
          SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.

                                                                  2
                     HOUSE BILL NO. 1239

PASSED:  April 7, 2025

                                   c.74

                                   CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                                   HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                                RANDY l\f;NALLY
                                   SPEAKER OF THE\;ENATE

d4(i. APPROVED this  day of Apr;,         2025

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BILL LEE, GOVERNOR